Over the past few months, the whole world has been concentrating on issues and events that are occurring on the so-called Greater Middle Eastern region. The issues include the Lebanese political scene, the Iranian Nuclear matter, the war in Iraq, oil prices, Israeli aggression in occupied Palestinian territories and the list goes on and on.
 
But one area which is not being given the attention it deserves, both in the media and the global political arena, is Balochistan, the largest province (in terms of area) of the federation known as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It is a region rich with mineral resources, especially natural gas. It also has the strategic port of Gawadar; a port which could decide the fate of two world powers i.e. the United States vs. China.
 
The situation worsened after the killing of Pro-Federation Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti, by the Pakistani security forces, which led to the killing of Chinese Engineers in the port cities of Gawadar and Saindak. It has been claimed by the Pakistani intelligence community that the insurgency is receiving aid from India’s RAW (Research & Analysis Wing) and some have also gone as far as to implicate the CIA and the FSB.
 
There are four reasons for the United States interest in the Baloch scenario: 

Balochistan's natural resources which would benefit the world’s largest oil/gas guzzling economy.

Balochistan borders southern Afghanistan,where US and NATO are taking a pounding from the Taliban insurgency. Both would certainly appreciate having their own satellite state in the south to support their operations in Afghanistan and problems related to those operatoins. A case in point is the prison break incident in Kandahar on 14th of June, 2008 near Pakistan’s tribal belt and Eastern Iran.

The region of Balochistan can provide the U.S. with the strategic depth which it has always sought in the sub-continent in order to contain China and secure its near absolute hegemony over the Persian Gulf. (the United States has thus far secured the Pacific rim through Guam, Philippines and Okinawa).

Balochistan would provide a platform for the elimination of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal by the U.S.
 
The Balochs, after being betrayed time and again by the Federation of Pakistan, are one step away from OFFICIALLY initiating their movement for independence. The recent elections in Pakistan have resulted in a Provincial Assembly which, if it decides to declare independence, can do so by passing a resolution alone. Should this happen, the 1971 Bengal break-away scene would be repeated. The main tribes of Balochistan; the Bugti, the Mengal and the Marri tribes, have immense animosity against the Pakistani government which is why the nationalist insurgency is accelerating significantly. Despite President Zardari’s efforts (who himself is a Sindh-based Baloch), nothing has materialized in the path of peace, thus far.

Besides the Baloch nationalist insurgencies in Pakistan, there’s another player which is trying to do the same in Eastern Iran in order to form a greater Balochistan and it is known as Jundullah. The name might rhyme with Hezbollah but it’s anything but because it is a nationalist movement, supported by the CIA and former President Musharraf’s crony, Ghulam Haider Raisani, MPA of PML-Q. Raisani was awaiting extradition to Iran on charges of terrorist activities through Jundullah. It is ironic, that the Bush administration and Musharraf’s government were actually allowing Balochistan to be used as a platform against Iran as was claimed by Seymour Hersch in 2006.

With the release of Sardar Akhter Mengal (leader of Balochistan Nationalist Party-Mengal Group) by the PPP Government came more bad news for those who seek to continue with the Federation. Mengel is also voicing an Anti-Establishment and Pro-nationalist stance.
 
The stakes have never been higher and one can expect a lot of blood being spilled in the region, all in the name of U.S. Imperialism, the so-called War on terror and Baloch Nationalism.
 
India’s war-hysteria is at an all-time high while the Obama promises to increase US troops in Afghanistan and continuing “surgical” strikes in tribal areas of Pakistan have already begun. Meanwhile, these areas are being pressured by the Indians on their Eastern borders. Surely, this can be termed as the "Last Great Game" as its consequences will demolish the US Economy by taking it to new lows. This would also have a direct effect on the EU and would allow more than 60 insurgencies in India to aggressively challenge the Indian government on a higher scale.
 
I agree with Lt. Col. (Ret’d) Ralph Peters of the US Marines on one thing: borders will be re-drawn. But we disagree on the fact that this time around, neither the sub-continent nor the Greater Middle East’s borders will be re-drawn according to the desires of current imperialist powers (US, UK  & NATO). In my opinion, the cycle of hell about to be unleashed will be beyond anyone’s controll, especially if Israel keeps on wreaking havoc on Gazans and if, God forbid, another theater of war opens in the Levant. The effects would be felt as far as Iran and the entire region would be in turmoil for years to come.

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