Region 
 

Region

Challenges and Realities

Pakistan needs to include Balochistan in the mainsream by seriously addressing its dilemmas.

By Aneeza Maham | September 2021


The largest, least populated, strategically significant and resource-rich province of Balochistan is not economically and politically stable to deal with the multiple challenges it faces. The law and order situation in the province is deteriorating at an alarming pace. A prolonged insurgency encompasses ethnic, militant, sectarian and secessionist violence and the province does not find a place in the mainstream national discourse.

The condition is further aggravated by the involvement of foreign entities with their own sets of political and economic objectives in the mineral-rich province. The situation demands immediate action and operational policies to help the province regain its stability. Unfortunately, it is constantly neglected by the policymakers and mainstream media. Considering its distressing circumstances, it is not getting the attention it deserves. The Pakistan government has no organized and serious strategy to deal with the multifaceted problems in a province that comprises almost half of its territory, and is home to Pathans, Balochs, Brahuis, Hazaras and many other ethnicities.

Insurgency in Balochistan has always challenged government and military control. The insurgents are simply interested in exploitation of its resources. The history of rebellion dates back to the creation of Pakistan, when Kalat declared independence in 1948, though later it acceded to Pakistan. This conflict was preceded by numerous disputes between the Balochistan inhabitants and the Government of Pakistan.

There are various dimensions to the conflict that led to the insurgency in Balochistan. Grievances include the issue of autonomy, lack of representation in politics and military, socio-economic rights, unemployment, resources distribution, human rights abuses, missing people cases, etc. Infrastructure issues include the development of Gwadar Port and the province’s exclusion from construction; hence CPEC has become the target of insurgent attacks. The establishment of new military cantonments in the province is another concern.

As Balochistan is an economically and politically neglected area, its vulnerability along with critically important crossroads has paved the way for foreign involvement. For the past few decades, it has become an international stage where foreign powers want hegemony to achieve self-driven agendas.

Pakistan has at times brought the issue of foreign interference in Balochistan to the global level. Nonetheless, it’s an arduous task to provide evidence of another state supporting insurgency in an opponent country. China’s ambitions are evident as it has geo-economic and geo-strategic interests in Pakistan; it wants the mega project of CPEC to succeed but is also highly concerned regarding the security of Chinese nationals and the opposition against the project, especially by India and the West.


India’s involvement in espionage activities is pretty daunting and has created serious repercussions for the economic prosperity and national security of Pakistan. Balochistan serves as a significant counterweight for India to distract the international community from the atrocities committed in Kashmir (IOK) and to destabilise Pakistan. Multiple incidents have shown India’s support to the separatist elements in the province and links with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

In 2016, Pakistan expelled eight members of the Indian High Commission as they got caught creating unrest and covertly working for the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of India. The arrest of an Indian naval officer, KulbhushanYadav, is another evidence of India’s espionage. In June 2015, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi publically confessed to India’s involvement in Pakistan’s internal affairs and supporting activities to weaken Pakistan domestically. Pakistan also submitted a dossier to the United Nations, listing all the evidence of India supporting terrorist activities in Karachi, Balochistan, and FATA. These are a violation of the UNSC Resolution on counter-terrorism and the international convention on terrorism.

The state of despair in Balochistan has enabled criminal entities to cement their activities in the province. Many episodes involving kidnapping for ransom of foreign and local government personnel have spread terror and restricted travel in the province. According to a report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, about 30 billion dollars’ worth of drugs is smuggled from Afghanistan via the coastal region of Balochistan. It is also believed that Afghanistan is acting as a facilitator for arming and training insurgents at its training camps.

Over the years, the Pakistan government has tried to initiate various institutional reforms to deal with the insurgency, address the grievances of the Balochistan people and improve the socio-economic status of the province. However, instead of improving, past initiatives have led to mistrust among the insurgents and Pakistan government because of unfulfilled promises and failed peace talks. Some notable measures include the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Baluchistan package, provincial autonomy, and the National Finance Commission Award 2009. The National Action Plan, proposed after the terrorist attack on the Peshawar APS in 2014, helped to curb militancy because of various counter-insurgency operations across the province. An incentive-based rehabilitation and disarmament program was also introduced by the security forces for militants.

The Balochistan province is the most fragile and vulnerable to outside aggression. Its challenge should be one of the top-most priorities of domestic policymaking. A real political solution must be initiated to counter insurgency. Considering the complexity of the situation, the approach should be multi-dimensional. Predominantly, grievances of the population should be addressed by giving them a fair share, socio-economic rights and legitimate authority to self-rule. Educated youth should be given equal employment opportunities in the CPEC project to buy their trust and reduce their susceptibility to join separatist groups. Extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, infrastructure development and the facilitation of necessities are of grave concern.

It’s the government’s responsibility to help create a stable and credible Balochistn government that can also act as an advocate of the people on the federal level. The United Nations, being the facilitator of global peace, can help find a way out of the crisis. Also, action against foreign entities’ involvement in violent activities must be taken up by the United Nations as Balochistan has been subjected to foreign intervention, which is a clear violation of the UN charter.

“No state has the right to intervene directly or indirectly in the internal and external matters of another state”, is a major part of International Law regarding a state’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Lastly, policymaking should be focused on making Pakistan strong, not just the centre but each and every province of it.

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