In his article 'Chance to heal wounds' (March 2010), Andrew Small does well to point out how the Baloch self-worth and pride are rooted in the very origin of the term 'Baloch'. In Sanskrit the two words 'Bal' and 'Och' signify 'powerful' and 'magnificent' respectively, which is precisely what the Baloch people are. But these very people have been at the receiving end of Pakistani repression ever since the country came into being.

This is one region that in the 21st century still lives under conditions of slavery. What is worse is that its immediate neighbours, as well as the international community, ignore the human rights violations being committed here by the Pakistani Army.

Atrocities committed on the Baloch people have a long history going back to the days when a new state by the name of Pakistan was created on the basis of religion. Under the pretext of Islam, the Baloch were enslaved, repressed and oppressed by the Pakistani Punjabi elite in order to serve their self-interests.

The Baloch are traditionally a secular, democratic and progressive people with a long history of indigenous culture and a social system preserved in the face of adverse pressures. Opposing them is the ruling oligarchy in Pakistan, which feels threatened and insecure. The Pakistani Army has been eliminating all opposition from the region since the 1950s.

The Baloch youth have revived the movement to free their Balochistan. There was a time when occupation and forceful assimilation was accepted by many but the new generation under the guidance of able leaders has decided to resist all injustices being heaped on a simple people. This generation cannot  be misled by packages and privileges such as the one recently announced by rime Minister Gilani, of which Andrew Small makes a mention in his article.

Mr. Gilani has said he wants to start a dialogue between Punjabis and Baloch people because they are like estranged brothers. But the prime minister should know that the Baloch are not even the same race as Pakistanis, let alone being brothers. Instead of healing 'broken hearts', as Gilani's package falsely proposes, the government should first mend the borders and stop all atrocities being perpetrated on the Baloch people.

Mehran Baluch
New York

India's true friend

In the March 2010 issue of your magazine I came across the Indian High Commissioner's (to UK) condolence message on the death of Mr. Michael Foot. In the message the Grand Old Foot is aptly referred to as 'a great friend of India'. Foot was a leading member of the India League in UK, which was founded by Krishna Menon. He contributed a lot towards putting in perspective the pre-Independence India to his fellow countrymen.
Foot's long association with leaders of India's freedom struggle is well documented. What may not be known is the fact that even when India went overtly nuclear in 1998, Foot took up for the country's cause, finding fault with Western discriminatory policies instead. In Foot, India has lost a true friend.

Peter Atkinson
London

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