The Balochistan conundrum

EDITORIAL: The coordinated terrorist attacks across 12 cities and towns of Balochistan a week ago, from Quetta to Gwadar, mark yet another grim chapter in a conflict that has become both tragically familiar and dangerously normalised. Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti’s announcement that 145 terrorists were killed within a span of 40 hours reflects the intensity and scale of the state’s response and underscores the operational effectiveness of the security forces when confronted with such threats. In the ensuing confrontations, 17 personnel from the police, Frontier Corps and the Navy embraced martyrdom, while 31 civilians also lost their lives or were injured. The loss of eight civilians in Gwadar alone — including five women and three children — highlights the indiscriminate nature of the assault.

Yet the persistence of such attacks, despite sustained counterterrorism operations, raises questions about the durability of kinetic solutions alone. The so-called Baloch Liberation Army’s claim of responsibility, coupled with continued acts of sabotage — including the destruction of a high-voltage electricity transmission pylon in Kachhi and grenade attacks on police check-posts by unknown assailants near Dhadar and Sibi — points to a militant network that, though diminished in number, remains capable of inflicting serious damage. The chief minister’s assertion that India’s intelligence agency, RAW, is backing terrorist activity, and that abandoned US weapons from Afghanistan are being supplied to militants, is not new. Pakistan has repeatedly presented evidence of foreign sponsorship of militancy in Balochistan, and the regional security environment lends weight to these claims. External support has undoubtedly emboldened insurgent groups, enabling them to sustain operations far beyond their indigenous capacity. However, an exclusive focus on external factors risks overlooking uncomfortable but necessary truths closer to home.

It is widely acknowledged that the roots of Baluchistan’s insurgency lie in decades-old grievances. Political marginalisation, uneven development, disputes over resource ownership, and the unresolved issue of enforced disappearances have created an environment ripe for exploitation. Terrorist groups weaponise these grievances, presenting themselves as champions of Baloch rights while inflicting suffering on the very population they claim to represent. Their violence against civilians, particularly women and children as well as poor workers from other provinces, exposes the hollowness of such claims.

Chief Minister Bugti’s downplaying of militant strength — placing their numbers at under 250, as opposed to the 1,000–1,200 cited in some media reports — may be intended to reassure the public. Yet, numbers alone do not define the threat. Even small, well-armed and ideologically driven groups can destabilise vast areas if underlying political and social fissures remain unaddressed. While the elimination of armed militants through kinetic means is essential for restoring order, it is insufficient to secure lasting peace.

What is urgently required is a parallel political process that empowers genuine representatives of the Baloch people and gives credible voice to their concerns. Development initiatives, dialogue, and accountability on human rights issues should complement security operations. Listening to saner voices within the province is not a concession to militancy; it is a strategic necessity. Without addressing the root causes that insurgents and their foreign backers exploit, Balochistan may continue to be trapped in a cycle of violence where gains from security operations fail to translate into peace on the ground.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026