Brahumdagh Bugti

Brahamdagh Khan Bugti or Brahumdagh Khan Bugti (Urdu: براہمدغ خان بگٹی) is the founder and leader of the Political Organisation Baloch Republican Party,[1] a Baloch nationalist group which broke away from his uncle Talal Akbar Bugti's Jamhoori Watan Party in 2008. He is the grandson and tribal successor of Nawab Akbar Bugti, former chief minister and governor of the Balochistan province.[2] He campaigns for the rights of Baloch people around Europe. As of 2018, he was living in self-imposed exile in Switzerland.[3]

Brahamdagh Bugti
براہمدغ خان بگٹی
Personal details
BornDera Bugti, Balochistan, Pakistan
Political partyBaloch Republican Party
Alma materSibi
Known forBaloch nationalist leader

He met the then Chief Minister of Balochistan, Dr. Malik Baloch, and federal minister, Gen (r) Abdul Qadir Baloch, in Geneva, twice in 2015. Bugti condones negotiations with Pakistan and a political resolution of the political differences in Balochistan.[4] In 2017, his asylum request was rejected by Swiss authorities. The Swiss authorities said that the Bugti's asylum request was rejected because he was involved in terror-related activities. His brother-in-law, Mehran Marri was also banned from entering Switzerland. The Swiss authorities stated that both Brahumdagh Bugti and Mehran Marri are a security risk to Switzerland.[5]

Abduction of UN official

UN Resident Representative, Fikret Akcura, stated that Brahumdagh Bugti had connections with the abduction of UN official John Solecki in 2009.[6] Similarly, United Nations Special Representative to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, called the then President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai regarding the release of Solecki. President Karzai admitted that Brahumdagh Bugti was in Kabul and that he will pressure Brahumdagh Bugti for the safe release of John Solecki.[7]

Allegations of terrorism and self-exile

Bugti went into self-exile in Afghanistan during a military operation Dera Bugti 2006 against the Baloch militants. Pakistan has alleged that he has been involved in a number of terrorist attacks.[8] In 2007, Pakistani leader Pervez Musharraf said that Bugti had been planning terrorist attacks from Afghanistan with covert Indian and Afghan support.[9] Afghan president Hamid Karzai publicly rejected this accusation, but later secretly admitted to US officials that Bugti was provided safe-haven in Kabul.[10]

In 2010 when Pakistan asked Kabul to hand him over, Bugti moved to Switzerland. In 2016, it was reported that Brahamdagh Bugti had applied for Asylum in India but it was put on hold by the government of India.[11] However, a report back in 2010 stated he already held an Indian passport.[12] In 2017, Bugti's asylum request was rejected by the Swiss government on the basis of Bugti's links with “incidents of terrorism, violence and militant activities".[13][14][15][16] Bugti moved to Switzerland in October 2010 and since then he is living in Geneva along with his family.[17]

In September 2016, Pakistan contacted Interpol to extradite Bugti[18] but the request was dismissed by Interpol in December 2017.[19]

Bugti accuses Pakistan of serious human rights violations and blames Pakistani media for not highlighting the frightful situation in Balochistan including military operations, enforced disappearances, torture, and killing of Baloch civilians and political activists.[20][21] In an Interview with the Republic, he called Pakistan a terrorist state and the Pakistani army a terrorist supporting army.[22]

References
  1. Brahamdagh Bugti willing to negotiate with govt: BBC, Dawn, 27 August 2015.
  2. Correspondent, The Newspaper's (2016-09-20). "Brahamdagh Bugti to seek asylum in India". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  3. "Will Brahamdagh Bugti, exiled Baloch leader, receive Indian citizenship? It's unclear". Firstpost. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  4. Dawn.com (2015-11-11). "Brahamdagh met Dr Malik Baloch, discussed Balochistan issue: BBC report". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  5. "Swiss banned Mehran Baluch over 'risks' to security". The News. 17 November 2017.
  6. "Is asylum for Balochistan's separatist leaders warranted?". Asia Times. 21 December 2017. Later he went to Switzerland, as connections emerged with the abduction of a UN official from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan, in 2009 as disclosed by UN Resident Representative Fikret Akcura.
  7. "US embassy cables: Update on a UN official kidnapped by Balochi militants". The Guardian. 30 November 2010. Ambassador noted that UNSRG Kai Eide had called President Karzai, who finally admitted that Brahamdagh Bugti was in Kabul and agreed to press Bugti on Solecki's release.
  8. "Brahamdagh Bugti's red warrant issued". Dunya News. 1 March 2017.
  9. "Brahamdagh Khan Bugti: Meet hero of Balochistan in exile since grandfather's assassination". Ib Times. 20 October 2015.
  10. "US embassy cables: Update on a UN official kidnapped by Balochi militants". The Guardian. 19 February 2009.
  11. "Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti's plea for asylum on hold?". Times Of India. 23 January 2017.
  12. Joshua, Anita (27 August 2010). "Bugti evokes strong emotions". The Hindu. He is the father of Bramdagh Bugti whose Indian passport has become a sore point in relations between India and Pakistan
  13. "Switzerland rejects Brahumdagh's asylum request after seven years". The News. 23 November 2017.
  14. "Switzerland rejects Brahumdagh's plea for asylum". Business Recorder. 23 November 2017. Brahumdagh Bugti's asylum application was turned down because of his links with "incidents of terrorism, violence and militant activities" and the rejection letter clearly sets out these allegations
  15. "Swiss govt rejects asylum to Brahamdagh Bugti". The Nation. 23 November 2017.
  16. "Swiss govt rejects Brahumdagh Bugti's application for political asylum". Express Tribune. 23 November 2017.
  17. Gall, Carlotta (2011-08-23). "Pakistan's Bitter, Little-Known Ethnic Rebellion". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  18. "Pakistan to contact Interpol to extradite Baloch leader Brahumdagh Bugti". The Indian Express. 2016-09-24. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  19. "Interpol dismisses Pakistan's request to issue red warrants for Brahumdagh Bugti". Daily Pakistan Global. 2017-12-11. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  20. "Brahumdagh Bugti blames Pakistan media for not highlighting Balochistan's appalling situation". Business Standard India. August 31, 2016. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  21. "Fighter jets cannot be compared with pellet guns". The Week. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  22. "Fighter jets cannot be compared with pellet guns". The Week. Retrieved 2020-10-06.
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