Two Editorails: Needless accusations and Baloch backlash

‘Startled’ is the word used by this paper’s reporter to describe the reaction of senators on Wednesday when they were briefed on Balochistan by the PM’s interior adviser. Was Rehman Malik’s argument a throwback to the old days when it was easy for the state to justify the bulldozing of a movement after labelling it as pro-India or pro-Soviet or pro-Afghan? Conversely, we know that when the government is not using the ‘foreign agent’ excuse to browbeat an errant subject, it is applying the refrain to conceal its inability to overcome a problem. Either way, it spells trouble for Pakistan and Mr Malik could have avoided the situation.His statement is hardly in keeping with the friendly messages President Asif Zardari has been sending to both New Delhi and Kabul. Also, the time is long gone when people would readily accept the state’s version about events in a ‘remote’ part of the country. Assertions without evidence can cause grave harm. The adviser should know since he had himself asked for an explanation after a Lahore police official linked India to two terrorist attacks in the city in recent weeks.It is his turn to come up with proof now. He spoke of thousands of Baloch insurgents being trained in Afghanistan with the support of India. By doing so, he also exposed himself and indeed the state he represents to the anger of the Baloch who may view the statement as part of a smear campaign which insinuates that they are susceptible to inducement by Pakistan’s ‘enemies’. It is good that we have a forum in the media where the accused can respond with statements of their own, but that doesn’t in any way rule out other, more severe, reactions.Let’s be under no illusions: others may well want to exploit situations inside our country to their advantage in the name of their own national interest. The world as it is today offers ample opportunity for such covert operations but we can only tackle these issues by first addressing the local realities behind them. As some senators maintained during the briefing, pointing fingers could further complicate relations with our neighbours.The senators were absolutely right in calling on the adviser to be discreet with his words, insisting they would rather hear him out in-camera. If something concrete emerges from the in-camera session, it can be taken up with those deemed responsible.http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/balochistan/needless-accusations-hs