R 200334Z MAY 09
FM AMCONSUL KARACHI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1087
INFO AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 
AMEMBASSY LONDON 
AMEMBASSY KABUL 
AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 
AMCONSUL LAHORE 
AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 
CIA WASHDC
USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
NSC WASHINGTON DC
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC

C O N F I D E N T I A L KARACHI 000173 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: May 19, 2019 
TAGS: PGOV PK
SUBJECT: BALOCHISTAN:  AALI BUGTI NAMED SARDAR OF THE 
BUGTI TRIBE 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
Classified by Stephen G. Fakan, Consul General, Reasons: 
1.4 b and d. 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  After three years of a leadership 
vacuum, the Bugti tribe has a new leader.  Aali Bugti, 
the grandson of the late Nawab Akber Bugti, returned to 
Dera Bugti after three years of exile and was named 
Sardar in a ceremony held May 19.  His return and 
ascendancy to leadership of the tribe are controversial 
and may lead to increased fighting among clan factions of 
the Bugti tribe.  End summary. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Since the killing of Nawab Akber Bugti by the 
Pakistani army in 2006, the Bugti tribe has lacked a 
sardar (tribal chief).  Based upon tribal tradition, the 
eldest surviving son assumes the role of sardar upon the 
death of the father.  With Nawab AkberQs eldest son dead, 
however, Aali Bugti is a legitimate claimant under tribal 
law to be sardar of the Bugtis.  (Note:  Nawab Akber 
Bugti had hoped another grandson Bramdagh Bugti, would 
succeed him, but Nawab Akber was killed before he could 
gain the support of the clan elders for his choice. End 
note.) 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Aali Bugti remained with his grandfather Nawab 
Akber Bugti until shortly before the leaderQs death.  He 
then spent the next three years in exile and only 
returned to Dera Bugti on May 1 with the support of the 
GOP and the army.  He was named Sardar at a tribal 
gathering on May 19, which was attended by only three out 
of five chiefs of the Bugti clans and minor members of 
the tribe.  Conspicuously absent were two clan chiefs and 
members of the Nawab AkterQs family, and although 
tradition stipulates attendance by all clan chiefs and 
members of the NawabQs family to legitimize the 
proceedings, the ceremony continued without them, albeit 
with some controversy. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Traditionally, the proceedings Q called a 
dastarbandi - begin when a member of the Syed clan (who 
are reputed to be descendants of the prophet Ali) start 
the wrappings of a turban around the head of the 
designated successor.  To signify their support for the 
new sardar, the wrapping of the turban is then completed 
by the other clan elders.  However, Pir Suri Mir Hassan, 
the named representative of the Syed clan and who by 
tradition is also supposed to be present, was kidnapped 
on May 12, further casting doubt on the legitimacy of 
AaliQs dastarbandi. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Without Pir Suri available to begin the 
dastarbandi process, it is unlikely that Aali will be 
viewed by all clans as a legitimate leader.  His 
acceptance by the clans is further complicated by his 
apparent affiliations with the GOP, and particularly with 
the army. About half of the clans of the Bugti tribe 
publicly support Aali; they view him as the rightful 
leader, regardless of whether or not he is supported by 
GOP.  Others are withholding their support to highlight 
their disaffection with GOP policies towards Balochistan. 
 
¶6.  (C) Jamil Akber Bugti, son of Nawab Akber Bugti and 
uncle of Aali, told post he will never support Aali 
because of his association with those forces that killed 
his father.  Baloch nationalists describe AaliQs return 
to Dera Bugti as a conspiracy against the Baloch and a 
plan by the GOP and army to create more fractures within 
the Bugti tribe.  Sardar Akhtar Jan Mengal, President of 
the Balochistan National Party Q Mengal (BNP-M) says the 
government is trying to foment a civil war in 
Balochistan.  He believes AaliQs presence in Sui will 
intensify disputes rather than lead to peace. 
 
¶7.  (C) Others view the arrival of Aali as a positive 
step.  Rahat Malik, a businessman and political analyst, 
believes that neither the government nor the Bugti tribe 
alone can improve the situation in Dera Bugti.  A 
tradeoff is needed in the area, and Malik believes AaliQs 
presence will help promote compromise and reduce the risk 
of bloodshed.  Naseer Ahmed Bugti, a journalist, believes 
AaliQs return might be the Qspark of hopeQ needed by 
people living in Dera Bugti.  He went on to state, 
however, that without the presence of Pir Suri Mir 
Hassan, tribal code will not recognize the announcement 
of a new Sardar.  Declaring Aali Bugti as a Sardar on May 
19, without the formal ceremony, will be controversial. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Comment:  Opinions vary, but some Baloch 
believe the return of Aali to Dera Bugti is an effort by 
the GOP to regain some control in the region, and to 
provoke internal conflict within the already fractious 
Bugti tribe.  Army efforts to organize groups of anti- 
Baloch nationalists to provide security for government 
installations further increase tensions between clans 
within the tribe.  It remains to be seen how much 
influence Aali Bugti will wield and his controversial May 
19 ascension to Sardar may leave him ineffective and 
unable to bring stability to Dera Bugti. 
 
 
FAKAN