‘US-India nexus bent upon splitting Balochistan’

American and Indian interests in Gwadar coincide hugely, and both are bent upon splitting Balochistan in order to materialise its nefarious designs of truncating Pakistan and Iran, and denying Chinese access to the Port.
This has been maintained by Brigadier (retd) Nadir Mir, who has written ‘Gwadar on the Global Chessboard’, a comprehensive study of the Port, for which he claims to be ‘the architect’. He asserts that he was involved with the project since ‘providence brought him to the stage’.
Mir believes that Gwadar has all possibilities of economic resurgence – ‘conduit for ailing economy of Pakistan’ – since it will act as a multiregional link up utilising Pakistan’s pivotal global geography, and connecting different regions like China with the Gulf, Afghanistan and the Indian Ocean. To him, after access given to China, Russia and the Central Asian Republics, Pakistan will be the direct beneficiary. “It is a twist of irony that today Pakistan is inviting Russia to warm waters after the former USSR’s attempt was foiled by us,” he mentioned, adding that the step could end Pakistan’s dependence on others since huge number of job, services, and assignments would be created, and Balochistan will become the richest province of all.
Mir avers that there are three aspects of the Balochistan problem; first, injustice has resulted in grievances, and the Baloch are not getting fair deal. Secondly, the biggest blunder was committed by killing Nawab Akbar Bugti leading to further alienation. And foreign influence, especially of India and US, has further aggravated the situation. “Baluchistan will achieve independence. For New Delhi this opens a window of opportunity to ensure that Gwadar Port does not fall into the hand of the Chinese. In this there is synergy between the political objective of the Americans and the Indians,” he quoted Indian Defence Review, adding that India wanted to control the India Ocean and build new water navy to block the Chinese. “India has been planning and systematically building asymmetrical resistance in Balochistan having identified it as Pakistan’s Achilles’ heel. For this, India has been using West Asia, safe house and consulates in Afghanistan,” he mentioned.
He observes that self-serving dispensation of Musharraf, under US pressure and to appease India, Gwadar was not given to the Chinese.
About Indian interests in Balochistan, Mir is of the view that the Indian aim of destabilising Balochistan is manifold. First, quid pro quo for Pakistan’s alleged interference in the Indian-Held Kashmir, severing Balochistan and bringing it under its hegemony. Secondly, India wants denial of Gwadar’s control to Pakistan since from here our Army and Navy can navigate Indian shipping to stalk Indian plans since the Port is located at mouth of Gulf. Thirdly, Gwadar will bring Pakistan closer to the Gulf Arabs since the proximity will develop relations damaging to the Indian interests. “Despite all drama of Confidence Building Measures and dialogue, India sees Pakistan as zero-sum game. Our any strength is in disadvantage of India,” he opined, adding that American and Indian stakes coincide tremendously in Gwadar. While referring to Selig S. Harrison’s article ‘The Chinese Cozy Up to the Pakistanis’, Mir mentions that the US has been recommended to work for independence of Balochistan. “Think tanks and lobbies in the west, which if not for any other reason, blackmail Pakistan and talk about splitting Balochistan. Even in the neocon era of Bush Junior, new Middle East map had been shown independent Balochistan truncating Pakistan and Iran, while blocking the Chinese access to Gwadar,” he maintained.