Ex-BNA commander says solution to Balochistan's problems lies in dialogue
Pakistan
Advises Baloch students to contribute to development, stop fight
QUETTA (Dunya News) - Gulzar Imam alias Shambay, a Baloch Nationalist Army (BNA) commander who had been arrested earlier, said on Tuesday armed resilience had pushed Balochistan back to "stone age".
Addressing a press conference, he said he wanted his “friends”, who were still fighting, to sit with the state to solve their problems using logic. “War has pushed the province into dark and I want Baloch students to play their part in development rather than fighting,” he added.
He went on to say that he had been an active part of agitation in Balochistan for 15 years, adding that it was his duty to secure right of Baloch people. "During arrest, I got the ooportunity to introspect, and I analysed the literature of arned groups operating across the world.
It dawned upon me that fight for rights of Balochistan could only be fought constitutionally, he said.
He continued by saying that he started the war against the state, adding that the way he chose was “wrong” as it was complicating Balochistan’s problems rather than solving them. “They use Baloch as a pressure group only and it was damaging Baloch people,” he added.
He said that the world reflected that solution lied in dialogue, adding that all including federal governmant, provincial governments, and armed groups were responsible for the state Balochistan was in. "He felt that state insitutions have heard their problems and he is hopeful that state will give him a chance to change," he added.
Earlier, security forces had apprehended Gulzar Imam alias Shambay in a successful intelligence operation, said military’s media wing in a statement.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the operation was conducted by the “Lead Intelligence Agency,” adding that Imam had been a hardcore militant as well as founder and leader of the banned outfit responsible for dozens of violent terrorist attacks in Pakistan including attacks on law-enforcement agencies (LEAs), and installations in Panjgur and Noshki.
Gulzar Imam also remained deputy to Brahamdagh Bugti in the Baloch Republican Army (BRA) till 2018. He was also instrumental in formation of Baloch Raji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS) and remained its operational head. "His visits to Afghanistan and India are also on record; his linkages with hostile intelligence agencies (HIAs) are being investigated," the ISPR said. Reportedly, HIAs also tried to exploit him to work against the state of Pakistan and its national interests.
He was apprehended after a carefully planned operation spanned over months over various geographical locations.
“The arrest of Gulzar Imam Shambay is a serious blow to BNA as well as other militant groups which have been attempting to destabilise the hard-earned peace in Balochistan,” reads the statement.
Apprehension of a militant leader of this stature demonstrates the capability and resolve of LEAs to uproot the menace of terrorism as well as speaks volumes for the successes garnered through supreme sacrifices of unsung heroes, it said.
