By Munir Mengal
Paris, France

The Eye of the Eagle - the ability to stay focused and lead ahead, through thick and thin, on what will be required to emerge victorious as a solo victory.

The Baloch Nation is at a critical stage. And it is probable to me that no plan we propose will be adopted. Perhaps another dreadful conflict is to be sustained. If, to please the personalities, or groups, we offer what we ourselves disapprove, how can we afterwards defend our work? Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can structure, and repair. The event is in the hands of the Baloch people. It is up to them, that how they design their future, path of struggle and the respective destiny.

During struggles for independence, social peace will be threatened if people's desires, expectations, and aspirations can not be articulated well in political strategies. Then either a situation of chaos or failure or disaster awaits them. Certainly, a risk free plan is out of the question, but a controlled social peace threat strategy is possible. Hence, the Baloch have to shape the political strategies of their struggle - to navigate the future - and make a comprehensive strategy to gain, develop and protect the national fundamentals, i.e. sovereignty, basic human rights, moral and cultural values, social justice, democracy, secular identity, etc.

The realistic approach for a just Independence struggle has to be based on a comprehensive win-win strategy for its Masses. This shall be followed as a fundamental principal. Only it is they, who have given us the right to struggle and lead. They have the right to be the end consumers of "Independence" irrespective of any political faith, and class structure. The encouraging and vigorous fact for the Baloch people is that, and it has been recognized and expressed at all levels, that the lead of the struggle is in the hands of the people, no-one, irrespective of his class background and influence, can control it. From historical events we gain insight that as, Martin Luther King Jr. recognizes, "Privileged groups rarely give up their privileges without strong resistance and the people will not stop fighting for freedom".

An International Maneuvering Approach:

Baloch diplomatic strategies must also co-relate with the Global Political Strategies (GPS), values, and to the international community peace and safety plans. The Baloch writers, thinkers and philosophers shall deliver internal advice and strategic counsel to better inform their group-level discussions, shape the national movement planning, help the masses to properly understand new opportunities and threats attached to the policies, and address their immediate and longer-term political strategies and reputational challenges. It is to be noted that, Political Intelligence and Risk Assessments shall be considered as the key factors for such a critical planning.

It is known that sketching such strategies which shall be related to the nature of the masses' available resources and to the people's and must keep the institutions democratic and be able to extract (share) benefits from International community or bend the governments' and organizations' behavior in their favor, is highly tactical and difficult. But it has to be done, there is no alternative process for success. Unfortunately, until now the Baloch political parties and individuals have failed diplomatically to realize the world to analyze the causes of their struggle and the resulting appropriate solution. By strong and par policies we have to convince the world and get their confidence, is the ultimate need of the time. Many Baloch critics say that the Baloch society is not that institutionalized. They have to recognize this fact that the burden of institutionalizing the society lies on their shoulders and no one can escape from this fact. We must consider two prime factors: what we hope to achieve and how we shall achieve it. If we do not keep the political goal in mind, our plans will lack direction and rarely achieve the desired effect. Strategic plans shall be based on the current political and military environment, and your goal is to take advantage of that environment before it changes.

The Balochistan and Pakistan conflict is not very difficult for the United Nations to deal with, other then the historical, cultural, language, religious, etc., factors the Balochistan issue is also very unique and crystal clear, as the Baloch ask the Pakistan to respect the Baloch determination as declared by H.H. Khan Kalat on 11th August 1947, and then the resolutions passed from the lower and upper parliament houses of the Balochistan, a right then was asked by the United Kingdom. It is also mandatory as per the UN charter on the member states to respect the "determination of the people".

There is a dire need for diplomacy to take centre stage so that there is more negotiating and less confrontation with respect to international community understanding and UN charter. The United Nations would only be compelled to act without hesitation, if the Baloch diplomatic strategy is structured comprehensively and categorically. It is because of these possibilities, that there is a heightened importance for diplomacy than ever before.

This involves attempts to convince, and get support by discussing the policies, actions, objectives of the struggle, historical facts, cultural realities, and the secular identity of the Baloch, exploring knowledge for the benefit of those who may not comprehend the problem, and of the future peace and global trade opportunities for the regional and international community. Diplomacy therefore entails the management of change that comes up from time to time in international relations. Therefore, it it is meaningless, to say who is who, and have what interests. Any one can be any one, who can create or attach herself with any interests. If you have the capability and potential to create co-related strategies, interests, future agendas, and sufficient know how, to accomodate and realize the opportunities created. Also important is the involvement of civil society organizations and nongovernmental organizations. It would therefore be myopic for one to think that the use of force in such national movement struggles would end immediately or with time, without any realization.

The spirit of a nation is the most valuable factor in any struggle. Therefore, when chalking out any political plans or diplomatic strategies the leaders and diplomats shall calculate it's direct and indirect impact on the national spirit.

Without structuring a comprehensive, well integrated and multi-layered diplomatic strategy it is impossible to move for a long run.

The dynamic beat of deep uprising on one side, and the barbaric army operations and human rights violations by the other side, it is clear that, there is a quest for freedom, justice, and human dignity on the part of the people who have long been victims of occupation and of forced annexation of the Balochistan. Occupation and forced annexation is illegal and no one can legalize it by articulating it any manner.

Most importantly, the art of diplomacy is an ongoing process that requires a strong desire to come to a viable and sensible conclusion.

"Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy". Norman Schwarzkopf