Banned Baloch group commander Bungulzai surrenders, urges others to follow suit

[ghazi52]

Banned Baloch group commander Bungulzai surrenders, urges others to follow suit​

Dawn.com
December 20, 2023

Sarfraz Ahmed Bungulzai addressed a press conference in Quetta alongside Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai. — DawnNewsTV


Sarfraz Ahmed Bungulzai, a commander of the banned militant group Baloch National Army (BNA), announced his surrender on Wednesday alongside 70 of his associates.

The announcement was made at a press conference in Quetta, with provincial Information Minister Jan Achakzai also in attendance.

During the press conference, Bungulzai said that he thought his armed struggle was for Baloch rights but later realised that the blood of the Baloch was being sacrificed for people’s own interests.

“India is involved in all these conspiracies […]. Keeping in mind all this, we have decided to join the national mainstream. Me and 70 of my associates have joined the national mainstream,” he said.

He further said that in 2014, the blood of 155 innocent Baloch was spilled in Awaran after they refused to pay extortion money. He said that thousands of Baloch had been killed over the past 20 years.

“These people are only working on foreign agendas,” he said. Referring to last year’s helicopter crash in which six Pakistan army officials, including a general, were martyred, he said that it had occurred due to a technical issue but the Balochistan Raaji Ajoi-R-Sangar (BRAS) had taken responsibility on India’s command.

“And after taking money from India, they shed the blood of their own Baloch,” he said.

He urged the youth to follow suit and renounce violence. “My advice to parents is to give your children an education, not guns,” he said.

Bangulzai thanked the state for welcoming him and his associates, and also urged it to create a path for those who, like him, wanted to integrate into the national mainstream, saying there were many waiting to be accepted by the state.

It should be noted that earlier this year, Gulzar Imam alias Shambay, said to be the founder of the BNA, was arrested during an intelligence-based operation in the Prom area of Balochistan’s Panjgur district.

He had later offered to help the government and security forces negotiate with disgruntled Baloch militants. In his statement, he said: “The path I had chosen for achieving the rights of the people of Balochistan was not the right decision.”

Commenting on today’s development, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar said “peace and stability” was the government’s top priority.

“The surrender of Sarfraz Bungulzai alias Mureed Baloch (the head of BNA) along with his companions/families is a very welcome development for Pakistan and Balochistan,” he said.

He noted that this had come after another major re-integration, in which Shambay, was arrested and “mainstreamed”.

“Embracing peace through inclusivity, our state and institutions are championing an accommodative approach, actively working to reintegrate estranged militants.

“This strategic move seeks lasting peace, fostering understanding, and rebuilding communities. Together, we pave the way for a harmonious and secure future for our next generations,” the premier said.

He also appreciated the efforts of the country’s law enforcers and intelligence agencies, specifically the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) which “ planned, executed and led this complicated clandestine operation“.

Banned Baloch group commander Bungulzai surrenders, urges others to follow suit

PM Kakar terms it "welcome development", says state and institutions are "championing an accommodative approach".

www.dawn.com

 

[Kermit]

Separatist leader in Pakistan appears before cameras and says he has surrendered with 70 followers​

QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — The leader of the main insurgent group in southwestern Pakistan appeared before cameras on Wednesday to say he has surrendered to authorities with some 70 of his followers and is giving up his yearslong fight for independence.
Sarfraz Bungulzai, who was previously known by his nom de guerre as Mureed Baluch, told reporters in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, that he feels remorse for the deadly attacks he and his Baluch National Army carried out against Pakistani security forces.
The group, also known by its acronym as BNA, has been banned by the government in Islamabad.

The development is a significant boost for Pakistan’s government, which has battled militants and insurgents of various groups across the country. Earlier this year, Pakistan top intelligence agency arrested another prominent BNA member — Gulzar Imam, also known by the name Shambay, the group’s founder.


Speaking at a government-organized news conference, Bungulzai declared that he deeply regrets his role in abducting civilians for ransom and the killings of unarmed people. It was not clear if he spoke under duress, if he had been taken into custody or if he would face any charges.



The insurgent leader also said he decided to lay down his arms after talks with authorities — but he stopped short of saying whether he and those who surrendered with him had been promised amnesty.
Bungulzai further said he became motivated to give up the fight after learning that his group, the Baluch National Army, was foreign funded and had the backing of neighboring India. He did not offer any evidence to his claims or provide details.
There was no immediate comment from New Delhi.

Pakistan often blames India for fomenting dissent within Pakistan, including the rebellion in Baluchistan, where small separatist groups have for years waged a low-scale insurgency against the state, demanding a greater share of resources or full independence from Islamabad.
Baluch separatist groups have also targeted gas pipelines across the province, which borders Iran and Afghanistan and is rich in oil and gas. Bungalzai’s BNA has been behind the killing of hundreds of people there and has claimed responsibility for bombings and attacks in other parts of Pakistan as well.
During the televised news conference, Bungulzai also urged other separatists to lay down their arms and fight peacefully, through mainstream politics, for their rights. “The state is not our enemy, and we were misguided by foreign intelligence,” he said.
There was no immediate response from the BNA to the reported surrender of its leader and scores of its members.
Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar welcomed Bungulzai’s surrender in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Baluchistan has been the scene of an insurgency by Baluch nationalists for more than two decades.

Separatist leader in Pakistan appears before cameras and says he has surrendered with 70 followers

The leader of the main insurgent group in southwestern Pakistan has appeared before cameras to say that he has surrendered to authorities with some 70 of his followers and is giving up his yearslong fight for independence.

apnews.com

 

[ghazi52]

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[Saifullah]

This is a good development. Surrendered fighters should be given means to earn a halal livelihood and be protected from attacks by terrorists. A lot of ttp that surrendered went back to terrorism or were hunted down and killed by ttp.

The ones sitting in West, Iran and Afghanistan recruit innocent Baloch youth and brainwash them with ethnic nationalism. They sell the fake idea that somehow Balochistan will become a Utopia if Pakistan left. But they are the biggest enemies of Balochistan.

The people of Balochistan (not including Brahuis or Pashtuns in Balochistan) have very little chance to actually create their own country out of Pakistani Balochistan and survive. They have very little fertile land, small population and are sparsely populated.

There is a lot of injustice in Balochistan which can’t be ignored. But using ethnic nationalism for a violent rebellion isn’t the answer. That will just bring more death, destruction, and misery to Balochistan. The state should focus more on Balochistan and improve the quality of life there, and stop neglecting it.

 

[RescueRanger]

Doesn't matter what faith, colour, political affiliation, ethnicity people may pigeon hole themselves into...

This is the only thing that matters, the nation is made by its people and the people make the nation. Long may this flag fly high in this garden given to us by the toil and sweat of our forebears.