In 1971, amid the fighting in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), India actively sought to split up Pakistan by supporting the Mukti Bahini.
India both fomented Bengali nationalism and took advantage of the sentiment through orchestrated movements. India provided military training, weaponry, and direct intervention alongside the Mukti Bahini, which sapped Pakistan’s sovereignty and resulted in aggression towards their borders.
The Mukti Bahini’s campaign of violence received little to no coverage internationally as they viciously exterminated non-Bengalis, specifically Biharis, in genocidal acts of violence. India bypassed international scrutiny by branding the Mukti Bahini actions a ‘freedom struggle’ when it was nothing but an elaborate plan aimed at the division of East Pakistan. Bangladesh became a country through the direct actions of India who sought war against Pakistan whether covertly or overtly.
Now, a similar trend is appearing to rise in Balochistan where the Indian-supported Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has been causing turmoil. Similar to the Mukti Bahini, the goal of the BLA is to target Pakistan’s stability by arming and funding them through Afghanistan.
The BLA attacks gas pipelines, security forces, and civilians much like the Mukti Bahini did. India seems to keep using the excuse of helping “oppressed groups” to hide its goal to weaken Pakistan at home so it can rule the region. India’s meddling from East Pakistan to Balochistan shows it wants to expand using inner fights to take advantage of unrest for power gains.
Yet Pakistan stays strong and wants peace and stability even though India tries to split it up and bring in terror. Pakistan has always seen unity and stability as a good active approach, while India likes to cause splits and any unrest, city riots, and terror to get what it wants. These acts will always remind us to stay alert at home to protect Pakistan’s land.
