Tariq Khalil
STRATEGIC milieu is in a continuous change and requires review to adopt changing geo political realties. It must be remembered by not adopting to change invite danger to polity and even geographic entity. It is applicable to port cities of Pakistan as is the case world over. In Indian Ocean and rim states the power balance in the region and world at large has changed a lot. Suddenly Pakistan finds itself in a vortex and consequent dangers. Threat perception has undergone a sea change both not only in the eastern borders, but in changed new power struggle in Indian Ocean. Indian Ocean is becoming new and future battle ground. It now combines Indo-American interests. This has raised the threat matrix for Pakistan and requires a new order in the port cities of Pakistan.
Historically Baluchistan has never been one entity. It has been over a thousand years amalgam of tribal fiefdoms and in late nineteen/twentieth century as independent states under British but allowed the tribal leaders internal autonomy. Status quo agreement was concluded by Quaid-i-Azam and endorsed by Sibbi Jirga. It is a legal document .Later, some Baloch leaders contested at the behest of vested interests. Whereas in India all states were amalgamated in Indian Union. It was in 1973 that Baluchistan was given the status of a Province, incorporated in 1973 Constitution. Word, Balochistan as a Province never existed. It was territorial stretch from Sestan in Iran to South Punjab, mostly tribal. Out of present population of 12 million, Baloch speaking population ratio is hardly 45% and others is Pashtun/other language speaking areas. There is large number of other communities like Makrani and others. Where as around 20/25 million Baloch tribes are settled in Punjab who moved down the hills in search of food and jobs in time and space. They are now completely merged in Punjab, whereas Punjab is not ethnic entity but any one living in the land of five rivers are called Punjabi. There are hundreds of castes and subcastes. Many of them have risen to highest office of the country. They have been head of states and PMs. Even today CM Punjab is from Balochi tribe. Same is the case in Sindh where over 15-20 million are Baloch ancestry.
Gwadar was purchased from Oman in 1958 and remained Federal Territory till 1973. As not connected through good infrastructure, people’s link with Oman continued and large numbers were serving in Oman security forces. It is now that Gwadar is linked with rest of Pakistan and great initiatives are taken in building port and other infrastructure. Construction of coastal highway was the opening of window, turning it into a Jewel. Now every political leader is claiming its ownership. It is bereft of historical reality.
Pakistan’s all ethnicities are integrated, like a rope has its existence. Separate the threads, nothing will be left. Gwader located at the geo-strategic location at the mouth of Persian Gulf overlooking all sea traffic passing, is not only going to be the future economic gateway for China and even beyond Central Asia and Russia. On completion of phase two of CPEC it is expected it to be a real catalyst to multiple industries in Pakistan. Many a Chinese companies are planning to shift their manufacturing to coming up Industrial Zones. It will offer cheap labour and allied facilities in these industrial zones. That means beside infrastructure water will become the major issue. That problem can be solved with hundreds of catchment dams to store flood water. After 18th Amendment provinces should be self sufficient. They get 57% as per NFC award. The provinces however showed incapacity to tackle the issues increasing the woes of people. Thus, there is a need of central authority to coordinate. Karachi was a Federal Area till 1973 constitution was adopted, it was merged in Sindh by Bhutto. After the war, in the state of disarray, no one had energy and courage to raise another issue. The chaos that followed is history in the backdrop of 1971 tragedy.
When British captured Manora, there was no Karachi in early eighteen thirties. The present Karachi Cant was built in 1935. Sindh was not single entity ever, rather fiefdoms of different tribes. “Major were Mirs, Nazamani Talpurs, Somroo, Syeds, Jatois and Lagaris and scores of smaller tribes. These states and tribals were captured by Maj Gen Charles Napier in 1843 after battle of Miani with a small Bombay infantry and Artillery consisting of British and local sepoys numbering only 2200. The rebellions, like Pir Pagara’s was mercilessly crushed. Sukker Barrage construction and allied canal system was a turning point in the first quarter of 20th Century. Large number of Punjabi agriculturists bought barren lands and turned them in to fertile swaths. So were settlers from Afghanistan. In 1936 province of Sindh was articulated from Bombay presidency. Another wave came in Karachi, who migrated in 1947 from India”.
The Karachi never got settled since 1973. On one side this being a port city was route of all trade and commerce for Pakistan, other being metropolitan in character people from all over Pakistan continued to flock in. This turned it into a mini Pakistan. A new culture has developed. The tug of power emerged after 1973 which continued to aggravate the polity and administration of the city. Due political space in the new provincial set-up was denied to it. Thus emerged on one side ethnic groupings on the other a large section drifted to extremism, including religious. In a population of two million, a jungle of humans, every actor found a space to play disastrous games. It became a fertile territory for the foreign operators. The successive provincial governments tried to mange an urban metropolitan city like a rural district. Once Jewel of East has now turned into City of Mafias. A dirty and disoriented city. (SC comments). Importance of Karachi can not be ignored or diminished. Interestingly, half of Karachi is already under federal jurisdiction; the cantonments, port trust, steel mills and many other areas. But as mentioned above every one wants to have finger in the pie. Result what we see. Pakistan economics, political and national security is linked to this city. To say it is centre of gravity.
The above milieu requires to have a complete relook at the governance and administration of all the port cities. The status for Karachi Quaid accorded need to be restored, a la pre one unit. Similarly for Gwadar the status be pre 1973. The city governments of these cities be metropolitan under Federation but open to all political parties to ensure political space for every one. A formula can be worked out to satisfaction of all. Aim is not only to restore glory of Karachi but also proper development of Karachi and future of Gwadar and in turn enhanced security of Pakistan in present day changing world order. We have examples of reconstruction of Singapore and Shanghai. The same be for any new upcoming ports in future, like Keti Bander and Pasni. Pakistan needs a new relook in its geo-political governance/dispensation. A political consensus is however be built. Pakistan is a heaven on earth and every Pakistani must preserve it.
—The writer, a retired Brigadier, is decorated veteran of 65 & 71 wars and a defence analyst based in Karachi.
