The Baloch insurgency in Pakistan is a symptom of decades-long state loss, broken promises, and manipulative policies, not just a law and order problem.
Successive governments have treated a social issue like a military issue by using force rather than speech in their responses to Baloch concerns. In consequence, the conflict has just grown worse, with rebel attacks getting more complex and brutal.
The most recent takeover of the Jaffar Express, which left 26 innocent people and all 33 insurgents dead, is the most recent illustration of a deepening issue that the condition has consistently handled poorly.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and richest territory, continues to be its most impoverished state. Balochistan has been unfairly denied its fair share of development despite making a significant contribution to the nation’s oil and mineral reserves.
Huge portions of the state are in extreme hardship because highways, schools, hospitals, and facilities are still woefully inadequate. Since Pakistan’s design, Baloch hatred has been at the root of this financial gap, but the state has relied on martial reprisals, arbitrary abductions, and political destruction to address these issues.
Every effort by Baloch frontrunners to increase autonomy or resource power has generally been met with brute force. Pakistan has a history of solitude opposition rather than engaging with it, from the defense activity against Nawab Akbar Bugti in 2006 to the ongoing battle of enforced abductions.
Generations of Baloch youth have been influenced by this forceful response, leading to insurgent organizations like the Baloch Liberation Army ( BLF), BLF, and BRA, who now view violence as the only way to secure their rights.
wrong priorities, and bad policies
Short-sighted policies that promote power over reconciliation have defined the government’s handling of Balochistan.
The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor ( CPEC ), a multi-billion-dollar project that passes through Balochistan but offers little to its citizens, is one of the most flagrant examples. While safety troops are deployed to protect overseas investments, roads and slots are constructed for Chinese interests. The Baloch continue to be marginalized in their own country.
The government has treated CPEC as a surveillance project, deepening the hate that drives the insurgency, rather than attempting to resuscitate it. Additionally, the country’s emphasis on military solutions has worsened things.
The government has empowered puppet officials who lack trust and control instead of speaking with trusted Baloch political leaders. Rebel groups have been able to emerge as the real representatives of Baloch aspirations thanks to this social vacuum.
The military’s counterinsurgency strategies, which include forced disappearances and judicial killings, have also caused the conflict to become a vicious cycle, with more young Baloch joining rebel groups with each new act of state repression.
The new Jaffar Express kidnapping, in which Baloch insurgents held hundreds of passengers prisoner and more than 25 of them died, should serve as a wake-up visit for the Muslim state. The strike, which resulted in a fatal confrontation with security forces, was both an alarm and a clear reminder to state authorities.
It demonstrated that the rebels are willing to intensify their conflict, even if it means costing human life. In addition, it highlighted the president’s ability to have the insurrection despite years of military operations, widespread human rights violations, forced disappearances, and intelligence crackdowns.
Pathetically, the president’s quick response was to chastise Afghanistan and India, once more diverting responsibility instead of taking action on the root causes. The root cause of the rebellion continues to be home: a longer history of political exclusion, financial oppression, and comprehensive abuse. Even if outside forces are exploiting the insurgency.
No foreign energy you bolster an insurgency unless the populace is now deeply unsatisfied.
Forward, what is the plan?
One of Pakistan’s most pressing domestic issues is centered on traditional grievances, social marginalization, economic abuse, and human rights violations.
Instead of coercion and suppression, a complete approach that emphasizes political representation, justice, development, and meaningful dialogue is required for a green resolution.
Second, political animosity causes turmoil because elections frequently place illegal representatives in the hands of voters. To restore confidence and give Balochistan a real political command, it is crucial to ensure free and fair elections without military disturbance. A trustworthy political system will enable real associates to resolve disputes efficiently.
Secondly, hatred is made worse by human rights violations, including arbitrary kidnappings and extrajudicial killings. The state has put an end to these crimes, hold those responsible, and guarantee good trials. Without addressing these hardships, work to reconcile may fail to gain public support and reliability.
Third, Balochistan is still poor due to corruption despite its abundance of sources. Politicians, officials, and contractors misappropriate a sizable part of development funds, leaving little room for true projects. Transparency, separate monitoring, and society monitoring are essential to ensuring that people’s needs are met.
Third, dialogue is essential to resolving the discord, but it must be diverse and credible. Important discussions can be facilitated by engaging well-known Baloch officials like Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Akhtar Mengal, and Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch. Beyond making symbolic gestures, the government has address issues of the social, economic, and security domains.
Fifth, no staged peace can be achieved. Political prisoners must be freed, and past rebels must be incorporated into society. The use of power as a means of government must stop. Only sincere attempts you foster trust and foster lasting peace.
Lastly, and most crucial, is the country’s political will and commitment. A security-focused strategy will just lead to more conflict and greater suspicion. Balochistan’s stability and economic future depend on the promotion of democracy, creation, and equal rights for Balochistan.