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India-Pakistan | ||
Khan of Kalat raises the stakes | ||
2009-08-13 | ||
QUETTA: The Khan of Kalat, Mir Suleman Dawood, announced on Tuesday formation of a council for 'independent Balochistan' and rejected any reconciliation with the government of Pakistan without the mediation of European Union and United Nations. Addressing reporters
He said he was enjoying the support of 'friendly' and 'like-minded' countries who had promised all help and cooperation. The Khan of Kalat said the Baloch had observed their Independence Day on Tuesday because the British rulers had accepted independent and autonomous status of the Kalat state on August 11, 1947. They later announced independence of Pakistan and India on August 14 and 15. He said the Qauid-i-Azam had negotiated Kalat's accession to Pakistan but it was rejected by the Kalat state assembly. He said Kalat was merged into Pakistan in March 1948 and in reaction Prince Agha Abdul Karim mounted a revolt. The Khan said the Baloch had lost trust in Pakistani rulers. However, he said that if European Union and United Nations mediated then negotiations could be held with the government of Pakistan. Meanwhile, the Khuzdar Engineering University was closed on Tuesday for an indefinite period. According to sources, a group of students belonging to the Baloch Students Organisation-Azad entered the university campus and tried to hoist the flag of 'independent Balochistan' on the administration building. Law-enforcement personnel did not allow them to remove the national flag and arrested a number of students. After the incident, the administration announced the closure of the university. | ||
Posted by:Fred |