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Brahamdagh Bugti براہمدغ خان بگٹی | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Political party | Baloch Republican Party |
| Alma mater | Sibi |
| Known for | Baloch nationalist leader |
Brahamdagh Khan Bugti orBrahumdagh Khan Bugti (Urdu:براہمدغ خان بگٹی orBalochi:براھُندگ ھان بگٹی) is the founder and leader of theBaloch Republican Party,[1] aBaloch nationalist group which broke away from his uncleTalal Akbar Bugti'sJamhoori Watan Party in 2008. He is the grandson and tribal successor of NawabAkbar Bugti, former chief minister and governor of the Balochistan province.[2] He campaigns for the rights ofBaloch people around Europe. As of 2018[update], he was living in self-imposed exile inSwitzerland.[3]
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]
UN Resident Representative, Fikret Akcura, stated that Brahumdagh Bugti had connections with the abduction of UN officialJohn Solecki in 2009.[6] Similarly, United Nations Special Representative to Afghanistan,Kai Eide, called the then President of AfghanistanHamid Karzai regarding the release of Solecki. President Karzai admitted that Brahumdagh Bugti was inKabul and that he will pressure Brahumdagh Bugti for the safe release of John Solecki.[7]
Bugti went into self-exile in Afghanistan during a military operation Dera Bugti 2006 against the Baloch militants.[citation needed] Pakistan has alleged that he has been involved in a number of terrorist attacks.[8] In 2007, Pakistani leaderPervez 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 forAsylum inIndia 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]
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.
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.
He is the father of Bramdagh Bugti whose Indian passport has become a sore point in relations between India and Pakistan
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