Mush offers to talk with Baloch rebels

Islamabad: Hours after the top Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti was killed in an army operation, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has reportedly offered to resume political dialogue with the Baloch rebels.

President Musharraf said, "The doors for negotiated settlement of all issue are always open. Neither we closed these channels in the past nor would we do in future".

Political parties and even members of the ruling alliance have been demanding for resumption of peace dialogue with the rebels for past few months.

A news channel reported on Monday that several security agencies and advisers, including the Interservices Intelligence (ISI) and Intelligence Bureau, had asked Musharraf to talk to the Baloch leaders.

The news channel said: "Musharraf's lack of understanding about the Baloch issue, his underestimation of the growing sense of alienation in all the smaller provinces, and the attack on his helicopter by Baloch rebels last December, contributed to his helping him take the decision to kill Bugti."

According to the channel, a section of the hawkish Military Intelligence prevailed over Musharraf to crush the three prominent Baloch leaders, Bugti, Khair Bux Marri and Ataullah Mengal.

Musharraf’s peace offer comes in the wake growing violence in Quetta and Karachi as curfew is imposed in different Baloch towns.

But the Federal administration warned that strict action would be taken against those who are initiating violence in the region.

Interior minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao claimed that the writ of government was restored in Balochistan, adding that though people had right to express their sentiments over the death of Bugti, but no one would be allowed to take law into their hands.

Pakistan newspapers on Monday praised the deceased Baloch leader Bugti and came down heavily against the government for opting in favour of the military option.

Cautioning that violence would continue in absence of any political dialogue, newspaper editorials called for resumption of ‘sincere political dialogue" with the Baloch rebels.

Meanwhile, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said that the body of Bugti, will be handed over to his family members after its recovery.