Asif says criminal nexus behind unrest in Balochistan after oil smuggling crackdown

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday claimed that the recent spike in violence in Balochistan is being driven by criminal networks whose “fake covers” of nationalism, politics and human rights movements have collapsed following a crackdown on oil smuggling.

“These groups no longer represent any political or ideological movement. What has emerged is a movement of criminals,” Asif said, adding that the unrest was triggered by efforts to recover financial losses suffered by these networks.

He alleged that a well-organised corruption ring had been selling smuggled Iranian oil at inflated prices in Karachi.

“Oil being procured at around Rs60 per litre was sold for nearly Rs200 per litre. This network was earning approximately Rs4 billion in profits daily through oil smuggling, which has now been curbed,” he said.

“This is the reason peace has been disturbed in Balochistan.”

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According to the defence minister, the situation has evolved into a nexus involving elements of the bureaucracy, tribal leadership and criminal groups. “It has turned into a complete nexus,” he remarked.

Highlighting the security challenges in the province, Asif noted that Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province by area, with an extremely sparse population.

“There is roughly one person every 35 kilometres. Controlling such a vast area is far more difficult than managing a densely populated city,” he said, stressing the need for large-scale deployment of security forces.

“Our forces are deployed and are taking action, but there is a physical limitation when it comes to guarding and patrolling such an enormous area,” he added.

Asif further alleged that development funds allocated for Balochistan had been exploited by political leadership in collusion with bureaucratic elements.

Providing details of recent violence, the defence minister said that over a two-day period, 177 terrorists were killed, while 17 security personnel, including 10 police officers, six Frontier Corps personnel and one Levies official, were martyred.

He added that 33 civilians, mostly in Gwadar, also lost their lives during the same period.