Alarming rise in acts of terrorism

EDITORIAL: Intent on creating instability insurgents with support of our external enemies continue to wage their violent campaign. On Wednesday, they launched two coordinated attacks on FC in Naushki and Panjgur areas of southern Balochistan.

According to ISPR, terrorists attempted to attack security forces’ camps at two locations. In Naushki they tried to enter the FC camp and during the shoot-out four terrorists were killed while one officer suffered injuries.

In Panjgur they tried to enter the security forces’ camp from two sides, and in the ensuing intense exchange of fire one soldier embraced martyrdom. Both the attacks were repulsed while four assailants killed.

The ISPR also said firing was continuing with intervals. Later reports said in the intense fight that lasted for hours, 13 assailants were killed and seven soldiers embraced martyrdom. A few days earlier, in an attack on a checkpost in Kech, 10 soldiers were martyred while one assailant was killed and several others wounded.

All these places are located in the coastal region of Balochistan where an insurgent group, Baloch Liberation Front, led by Dr Allah Nazar, is active. Although it had been operating from Afghanistan, the new government in Kabul is said to have ousted all Baloch militant groups. Some reports suggest these people, financed and supported by this country’s traditional adversary, may be using some ungoverned spaces in the bordering areas of Iran. In fact, border security has been one of the key issues in talks between Pakistan and Iran.

The problem, however, needs to be recognised for what it is and treated accordingly. Indeed, use of kinetic action is necessary to deal with those resorting to acts of terrorism.

Insurgency though presents a different challenge from that of the TTP terrorists who not only defy the writ of the state but also want to change the way of life in this country. Baloch insurrection is rooted in long-standing grievances about denial of political and economic rights, in particular lack of control over the province’s natural resources.

Further aggravating the situation are violations of the constitutionally guaranteed right to life and liberty. It is a political problem and hence needs to be resolved through political means.

In the recent past, there have been some attempts in that direction, such as the one undertaken by Dr Abul Malik Baloch when he was the chief minister of Balochistan. Although he had said he was mandated by the federal government to bring all the insurgency leaders into the political mainstream, he failed in his mission. Trust, a valuable commodity in all such matters, remains missing to this date.

All leaders in that restive province have been complaining of being powerless when it comes to addressing the issues that have kept fuelling insurgency. Some development schemes announced by the previous and present governments have done nothing to diminish the Baloch people’s sense of alienation.

A few months ago, Prime Minister Imran Khan appointed Jamhoori Wattan Party chief and member of the National Assembly Shahzain Bugti as his Special Assistant on Reconciliation and Harmony in Balochistan. The recent attacks on security forces show so far he has failed to persuade the insurgent leaders, including his cousin Brahamdagh Bugti. Yet the effort may succeed at some point.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022