AFTER the shocking cycle of violence that began on Sunday night in Balochistan, the state is trying to formulate a response to the beleaguered province’s militancy problem.

Addressing a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the prime minister vowed to crack down on terrorism, insisting there was “no room for weakness”. In a related development, the interior minister dashed to Quetta, and while reiterating his support for the Balochistan chief minister, he observed that the entire national leadership was “working towards a solution” to address the province’s issues.

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Past administrations have made similar resolves, using both carrots and sticks to ‘fix’ Balochistan. Yet, as the recent attacks have shown, the separatist threat has grown in lethality and reach, and a fresh approach is needed to bring peace to this tortured land.

The state’s prime responsibility is to stop further violence in Balochistan and ensure that the lives of its people are secure. While the security forces pursue terrorists, it must be ensured that no innocent people are hauled up in the dragnet, and that there are no human rights violations during counterterrorism operations. If innocent people are penalised, the terrorists’ narrative will only be strengthened.

Furthermore, the recent violence indicates an intelligence failure of significant proportions. Terrorists massacred bus passengers based on their ethnicity, while also attacking installations of security forces. And, this was not an assault in a limited area; the insurgents struck at multiple locations in the province. In fact, the sophistication of the attacks point to a high level of coordination and planning, possibly aided by hostile foreign forces. A full investigation, therefore, is required to unearth how terrorists were able to go on the rampage, causing such high loss of life.

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As this paper has pointed out, the state’s response must go beyond kinetic measures. The prime minister said on Tuesday that talks could be held with those who “acknowledged Pakistan’s Constitution and flag”, but there could be no dialogue with terrorists.

Perhaps the administration can start with promising to ensure that the people of Balochistan have the protections guaranteed by the Constitution. Much of what ails the province is the result of denial of fundamental rights to Balochistan’s people, and lack of holistic development — health, education, economic opportunities — reaching its people. Correcting course would require engagement with the province’s genuine representatives, who are often crowded out by pro-establishment ‘influentials’ on the province’s political stage.

On the other hand, Baloch nationalist leaders should also condemn killings based on ethnicity, as such barbaric behaviour cannot be condoned. Ultimately, the rulers should realise that if people are not allowed to secure their rights — in Balochistan and other areas — through the peaceful democratic process, then the doors for rebellion and violence will be flung wide open.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2024