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India-Pakistan
US opposes independent Balochistan
2014-02-13
[DAWN] The United States has made it clear that it does not support the idea of an independent Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
and respects Pakistain's territorial integrity.

The question of the alleged US involvement was raised at the State Department briefing on Tuesday afternoon where spokesperson Jen Psaki said she had seen media reports suggesting that "we had been engaged with Balochistan" and promised to release an official statement on the issue.

On Wednesday, the State Department issued a statement, making it clear that "the United States respects the territorial integrity of Pakistain. It is not the policy of the administration to support independence for Balochistan."

The question raised at the briefing also referred to a recent statement by a Republican Congressman Louie Gohmert, suggesting that the United States should help Balochistan become a separate state.

"We are aware of Representative Gohmert's comments. Members of Congress express a wide range of views. Such comments do not in any way imply US government endorsement," said the State Department while distancing itself from Mr Gohmert's position on the issue.

In a recent interview, Mr Gohmert suggested that to resolve the Afghanistan crisis, it's better to have a separate Balochistan carved out of Pakistain.

Mr Gohmert's statement followed President Barack Obama
If you have a small business, you didn't build that...
's State of the Union address last month, emphasising the need for US disengagement from Afghanistan.

The Republican Congressman interpreted the speech as an admission of defeat in Afghanistan and proposed a two-point formula for turning this possible defeat into victory: supply more arms to the Northern Alliance and a new state within the borders of Pakistain.

"Let's talk about creating a Balochistan in the southern part of Pakistain," Mr Gohmert told The Huffington Post. "They love us. They'll stop the IEDs [improvised bombs] and all the weaponry coming into Afghanistan, and we got a shot to win over there."

The White House did not respond to requests for comments on Mr Gohmert's statement.
Posted by:Fred

#5  the balochs have more right to nationhood than the Paleos

- well established tribal history
- long time ethnic identity
- an economy that while rudimentary does not rely on foreign aid for 70% of its income
Posted by: lord garth   2014-02-13 19:26  

#4  If I were running the show in India I'd suggest an independent/Neutral Kashmir and hint if that goes well an indepenent/Neutral Punjab is next. If Pakistan aggrees they demilitirze an ongoing sore and watch as Pakistan disintegrates. If Pakistan disagrees India wins the arguement and hopefully world-wide support.

If Kashmir and Punjab go independent you'd have a nice solid bulwark against the Islamists which would be a natural market for Indian military equipment.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2014-02-13 14:44  

#3  I support an independnt Balochistan. Anything carved out of Pakistan and Iran can't be a bad thing. Especially if they manage it on their own.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2014-02-13 14:38  

#2  The current regime in the US opposes independent anything, particularly citizens. Get back in your box.
Posted by: ed in texas   2014-02-13 07:07  

#1  And a loud "yeah-h-h right" is over WESTPAC + Pacific, from Guam.

As things stand, the most proficient way for the US-Allies to both defeat Islamist-led militancy + dev Afghanistan is via open-water ports thru Pak + Iranian Balochistan, or at least Pakistan.

The alternative is via land routes thru Central Asia + IndoPak, wid the ones thru Central Asia = ex-Soviet -Stans being the most problematic + very costly. IFF AFGHANISTAN IS DEV PROPERLY, IT NEEDS ACCESS TO THE SEA.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2014-02-13 00:59  

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