Surrendered BRA fighters say Brahamdagh 'misled' them

The 43 Baloch Republican Army (BRA) fighters, who surrendered on Tuesday, blamed Baloch Republican Party (BRP) chief Brahamdagh Bugti of misleading them as they oppose his application for seeking asylum in India.

The seven commanders and other insurgents, who had earlier handed over their weapons to authorities and renounced violence, said this while meeting media representatives at the Sibi Scouts headquarters, reports the Express Tribune.

Former commander of the banned outfit Lal Khan Bugti said that he and his colleagues supported Brahamdagh but, "when he [Brahamdagh] applied for political asylum in India, we decided to part ways with him. We are loyal to Pakistan and will remain loyal till our last breath."

Another commander, Qaiser Khan Bugti, said that they remained loyal to Brahamdagh for 10 years and carried out subversion activities including bomb blasts, target killing and attacks on security forces in Dear Bugti, Chatter, Phulaji and others areas of the province.

"The main reason to disassociate with Brahamdagh is his application to the Indian government seeking political asylum," he said.

They added that after they announced their decision, militants loyal to BRA attacked their houses in Chatter and Phulaji.

MNA Mir Dostain Khan Domki said that the government would not abandon the ones, who were renouncing violence.

"The government will provide all facilities including education, health, water to the families and children of the militants who have surrendered," he said.

Self-exiled Baloch leader Brahamdagh Bugti has been staying in Afghanistan and Europe ever since his grandfather Nawab Akbar Bugti was killed in a military raid nine years ago for leading a guerrilla resistance.

Bugti and other Baloch leaders and activists have regularly voiced their criticism against Pakistan for carrying out extensive human rights violation in Balochistan.