Brahumdagh Bugti
{{Short description|Leader of Pakistani nationalist group}}
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{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Brahamdagh Bugti
{{Nastaliq| براہمدغ خان بگٹی}}
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| party = Baloch Republican Party
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Dera Bugti, Balochistan, Pakistan
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = Sibi
| known_for = Baloch nationalist leader
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Brahamdagh Khan Bugti or Brahumdagh Khan Bugti ({{langx|ur|براہمدغ خان بگٹی}} or {{langx|bal|براھُندگ ھان بگٹی}}) is the founder and leader of the Baloch Republican Party,[http://www.dawn.com/news/1202981 Brahamdagh Bugti willing to negotiate with govt: BBC], Dawn, 27 August 2015. 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.{{Cite web|last=Correspondent|first=The Newspaper's|date=2016-09-20|title=Brahamdagh Bugti to seek asylum in India|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1284917|access-date=2020-09-09|website=DAWN.COM|language=en}} He campaigns for the rights of Baloch people around Europe. {{As of|2018}}, he was living in self-imposed exile in Switzerland.{{cite news |date=16 September 2016 |title=Will Brahamdagh Bugti, exiled Baloch leader, receive Indian citizenship? It's unclear |work=Firstpost |publisher= |url=https://www.firstpost.com/world/will-brahamdagh-bugti-exiled-baloch-leader-receive-indian-citizenship-its-unclear-3007124.html |access-date=4 May 2018}}
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.{{Cite web|last=Dawn.com|date=2015-11-11|title=Brahamdagh met Dr Malik Baloch, discussed Balochistan issue: BBC report|url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1218938|access-date=2020-09-09|website=DAWN.COM|language=en}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/245377-swiss-banned-mehran-baluch-over-risks-to-security|title=Swiss banned Mehran Baluch over 'risks' to security|date=17 November 2017|work=The News}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.asiatimes.com/2017/12/opinion/unwarranted-asylum-baloch-separatist-leaders/|quote=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.|title=Is asylum for Balochistan's separatist leaders warranted?|date=21 December 2017|work=Asia Times}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/192891|quote=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.|title=US embassy cables: Update on a UN official kidnapped by Balochi militants|date=30 November 2010|work=The Guardian}}
Allegations of terrorism and self-exile
Bugti went into self-exile in Afghanistan during a military operation Dera Bugti 2006 against the Baloch militants.{{Citation needed|date= June 2022}} Pakistan has alleged that he has been involved in a number of terrorist attacks.{{cite news|url=http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/377060-Brahamdagh-Bugtis-red-warrant-issued|title=Brahamdagh Bugti's red warrant issued|date=1 March 2017|publisher=Dunya News}} In 2007, Pakistani leader Pervez Musharraf said that Bugti had been planning terrorist attacks from Afghanistan with covert Indian and Afghan support.{{cite news |date= 20 October 2015 |title= Brahamdagh Khan Bugti: Meet hero of Balochistan in exile since grandfather's assassination|publisher= Ib Times |url= http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/brahamdagh-khan-bugti-meet-hero-balochistan-exile-since-grandfathers-assassination-1508624}} Afghan president Hamid Karzai publicly rejected this accusation, but later secretly admitted to US officials that Bugti was provided safe-haven in Kabul.{{cite news |date= 19 February 2009 |title= US embassy cables: Update on a UN official kidnapped by Balochi militants
|work= The Guardian |url= https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/192891 }}
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.{{cite news|date=23 January 2017|title= Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti's plea for asylum on hold?|publisher=Times Of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/bugtis-plea-for-asylum-on-hold/articleshow/56725500.cms }} However, a report back in 2010 stated he already held an Indian passport.{{cite news |url= http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-international/bugti-evokes-strong-emotions/article597059.ece|title=Bugti evokes strong emotions |last=Joshua |first= Anita |date= 27 August 2010 |work= The Hindu |quote= He is the father of Bramdagh Bugti whose Indian passport has become a sore point in relations between India and Pakistan}} 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".{{cite news|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/247666-switzerland-rejects-brahumdagh-s-asylum-request-after-seven-years|title=Switzerland rejects Brahumdagh's asylum request after seven years|date=23 November 2017|publisher=The News}}{{cite web|url=https://epaper.brecorder.com/2017/11/23/4-page/683864-news.html|title=Switzerland rejects Brahumdagh's plea for asylum|quote=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|date=23 November 2017|work=Business Recorder}}{{cite web|url=https://nation.com.pk/23-Nov-2017/swiss-govt-rejects-asylum-to-brahamdagh-bugti|date=23 November 2017|work=The Nation|title=Swiss govt rejects asylum to Brahamdagh Bugti}}{{cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1566261/1-swiss-govt-rejects-brahumdagh-bugtis-application-political-asylum/|title=Swiss govt rejects Brahumdagh Bugti's application for political asylum|date=23 November 2017|work=Express Tribune}} Bugti moved to Switzerland in October 2010 and since then he is living in Geneva along with his family.{{Cite news|last=Gall|first=Carlotta|date=2011-08-23|title=Pakistan's Bitter, Little-Known Ethnic Rebellion|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/24/world/asia/24baluch.html|access-date=2020-09-09|issn=0362-4331}}
In September 2016, Pakistan contacted Interpol to extradite Bugti{{Cite web|date=2016-09-24|title=Pakistan to contact Interpol to extradite Baloch leader Brahumdagh Bugti|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/pakistan-to-contact-interpol-to-extradite-baloch-leader-brahumdagh-bugti-3048059/|access-date=2020-09-28|website=The Indian Express|language=en}} but the request was dismissed by Interpol in December 2017.{{Cite web|date=2017-12-11|title=Interpol dismisses Pakistan's request to issue red warrants for Brahumdagh Bugti|url=https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/interpol-dismisses-pakistans-request-to-issue-red-warrants-for-brahumdagh-bugti/|access-date=2020-09-28|website=Daily Pakistan Global|language=en}}
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.{{Cite news|date=August 31, 2016|title=Brahumdagh Bugti blames Pakistan media for not highlighting Balochistan's appalling situation|work=Business Standard India|url=https://www.business-standard.com/multimedia/video-gallery/world/brahumdagh-bugti-blames-pakistan-media-for-not-highlighting-balochistan-s-appalling-situation-39254.htm|access-date=2020-09-28}}{{Cite web|title=Fighter jets cannot be compared with pellet guns|url=https://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/2019/11/22/fighter-jets-cannot-be-compared-with-pellet-guns.html|access-date=2020-09-28|website=The Week|language=en}} In an Interview with the Republic, he called Pakistan a terrorist state and the Pakistani army a terrorist supporting army.{{Cite web|title=Fighter jets cannot be compared with pellet guns|url=https://www.theweek.in/theweek/cover/2019/11/22/fighter-jets-cannot-be-compared-with-pellet-guns.html|access-date=2020-10-06|website=The Week|language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web|title=Balochistan leader Brahamdagh Bugti meets authorities in Geneva for political asylum in India|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/balochistan-leader-brahamdagh-bugti-meets-authorities-in-geneva-for-political-asylum-in-india/|date=September 20, 2016|website=Indian Express}}
{{baloch nationalism}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bugti, Brahamdagh Khan}}
Category:Pakistani expatriates in Afghanistan
Category:Pakistani expatriates in Switzerland