All of Pakistan’s sub-nationalities need to be provided their rights and treated as equal in the eyes of the state. Unfortunately, the Pakistani state has rarely done that and we can see that in Balochistan.
Within a space of 10 days there have been multiple attacks inside Balochistan whether at Quetta railway station or at Mastung. The Balochistan Liberation army has claimed the attacks. In October miners were massacred in Dukki and in August several coordinated attacks rocked the province.
As an editorial in Dawn noted, “people of Balochistan are caught between various strands of militants who are growing increasingly bloodthirsty, and the heavy-handed response of the state, which often hauls away innocent people in the name of fighting terrorism. They deserve better; mainly, a state CT policy that respects human rights and also succeeds in neutralising the militant threat to the public and security personnel.”
The editorial warned that “lasting peace can only come to Balochistan through short-term law-enforcement operations and long-term strategies that can address the poor socioeconomic situation in the province that fuels separatist sentiment. Moreover, the province’s popular leaders must be allowed, through an unhindered democratic process, to formulate and execute public policy. The people of Balochistan need to be protected from terrorist groups, and the growing tide of militancy must be checked.”
