Balochistan’s ongoing struggles: Unpacking relentless violence and socio-economic challenges

INTERNATIONAL DESK: On September 29, Balochistan’s Mastung district was marred by a devastating suicide blast, leaving at least 55 people dead and over 60 injured during an Eid-i-Miladun Nabi procession. While this attack remains unclaimed, it amplifies the grim security situation in Pakistan’s largest province, Balochistan. The region has seen a surge in violence, fueled by a separatist insurgency seeking independence from Pakistan due to perceived exploitation of its mineral resources and governance disparities. While Pakistan faces a challenging security environment, the situation is exacerbated by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which has made Balochistan a vital strategic link.

This article delves into the root causes of Balochistan’s unrest, including political disenfranchisement, economic disparities, and the influence of external actors like China, while emphasizing the urgent need for a multifaceted approach to address the grievances of the Baloch people and bring stability to this volatile region.

At least 55 people, including a police officer, were killed while more than 60 were injured in a suicide blast near a 12th Rabiul Awwal procession in Balochistan’s Mastung district on September 29. Mastung Assistant Commissioner Atta-ul-Munim told that the explosion took place when people were gathering for an Eid-i-Miladun Nabi procession near Madina Masjid at Alfalah Road. He thus stated, “The bomber detonated himself near the vehicle of the deputy superintendent of police (DSP).”

Moreover, later in the day, between 2pm and 3pm another loud bang was heard near the blast site for a second time. It was a controlled hand grenade blast near a bus stop by Counter Terrorism Department officials who were defusing it. According to officials, the area was cordoned off to avoid any mishap. Friday’s bombing in Mastung was among the worst attacks in Pakistan in a decade. In 2014, 147 people, mostly schoolchildren, were killed in a Taliban attack on an army-run school in the northwest city of Peshawar.

The Counter Terrorism Department has registered a case of suicide bombing and collected evidence from the blast scene, including body parts of the bomber for DNA testing, Muhammad Azam, the information duty officer with Mastung District Police, stated.

Unfortunately, Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by area, has experienced a gory situation and a spate of attacks in recent months, fueled by a decades-long insurgency by separatists who demand independence from the country, infuriated by what they say is the state’s domination and abuse of the region’s mineral resources. Interestingly, no group has yet claimed responsibility for either of the explosions, which struck during a restive period in Pakistan, as it has battered a rush of militant attacks in the buildup to general elections being held in January. Nevertheless, the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), responsible for some of the bloodiest attacks in Pakistan, denied its involvement.

“The loss of innocent lives in the blast in Mastung is deeply saddening,” said Muhammad Khurasani, a spokesman for the TTP.

It can very well be said that Pakistan has witnessed a rise in terror activities in recent months, especially in the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), after the TTP ended its ceasefire with the government in November, 2022. Earlier in September, at least 11 people, including Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leader Hafiz Hamdullah, were injured in a blast in Balochistan.

In May this year, unidentified attackers targeted a polio vaccination team in the Killi Sour Karez area on the outskirts of Mastung district, resulting in death of a policeman. In October, 2022 three people were killed, and six others were injured in a bomb attack targeting two vehicles in the mountainous area of Qabu in Mastung. In July 2018, at least 128 people, including politician Nawabzada Siraj Raisani, were killed and more than 200 were injured in a deadly suicide blast in the same district of Mastung.

Balochistan, has its own peculiarities, which further add on to the grave scenarios of violence and terror within the province. The proliferation of weapons and the easy accessibility of arms have caused much to the rise of weaponization in the province. Balochistan shares a long border with Afghanistan, which has experienced protracted conflicts.

Moreover, the porous nature of the border has further enabled the flow of arms and ammunition into Balochistan, allowing various terror elements and insurgents to acquire sophisticated weaponry in both Pashtun and Baloch areas of Balochistan. Yet, violence against Baloch separatists have contributed to the ongoing conflict in the state.

The political environment in Balochistan is mostly dominated by Baloch nationalist and religious parties. The South is dominated by nationalist, whereas the north is dominated by religious parties with a vacillation mandate to the nationalists. The economic outlook of Balochistan is also not that promising, it has the highest poverty rate in Pakistan.

Yet, successive Pakistani governments and the country’s authoritative military have dithered in attempting to end the separatist militants or combine anti-insurgency tactics with development projects in an effort to address the grievances of common Balochis that result in violence in the region. Sadly, many are of the opinion that surge in violence is a continuance of politics by other means, and subjugation has amplified with the increase in the economic footprint in Balochistan, and the militancy is a response to that. Instead of addressing the primary causes of the rebellion, Islamabad has doubled down on backing pro-military politicians to suppress the insurgency — the fifth since Pakistan’s independence in 1947.

The situation has got more complex because of CPEC. The CPEC of China, is a $62 billion project that links China’s Xinjiang region to Pakistan’s strategic Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea with a network of roads, railways, pipelines and power plants. Balochistan is also home to the Gwadar port, a crucial link in the CPEC. China is a close partner of Pakistan and its biggest source of military and economic support. But in recent years terrorist attacks targeting Chinese nationals and their interests in Pakistan have alarmed Beijing.

Lately, in the month of August, 2023, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) insurgents attacked a Chinese convoy, carrying 23 Chinese personnel in Gwadar, Balochistan. “BLA Majeed Brigade today targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers in Gawadar,” the armed group, which is banned in Pakistan, said on social media.

Furthermore, in the third quarter of 2023, Balochistan witnessed a staggering 131 percent surge in fatalities, as revealed by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) report. Balochistan, in conjunction with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), emerged as the focal point of violence, collectively responsible for nearly 94 percent of all casualties and 89 percent of recorded incidents, encompassing acts of terrorism and security force operations during this period.

The province of Balochistan has always been in the epicentre of violence, political dissent, and state sponsored atrocity. The region is no doubt restive, but the elements of discontent and continued state apathy is making things worse for the common Baloch residing in the area. In addition, years of policies led by the Pakistani establishment to control Balochistan have miserably failed. Consequently, along with dynamic action, the state must also look at why it has been unable to elevate socioeconomic potential of this resource-rich, but awfully poor province.

In conclusion, Balochistan’s persistent turmoil reflects a complex web of historical grievances, economic disparities, and external influences. The recent tragedy in Mastung highlights the urgency of a comprehensive consideration to address the province’s deep-rooted issues. While political dominance oscillates between nationalist and religious parties, Balochistan remains mired in poverty, exacerbating the cycle of violence.

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a double-edged sword, has posed security challenges. Balochistan’s rising fatalities underscore the need for immediate attention. To quell this unrest, Islamabad must shift from suppressing insurgency to addressing core issues and promoting development. Failure to harness Balochistan’s vast resources for the welfare of its people has perpetuated this cycle. A multifaceted approach is imperative for lasting stability and peace in this troubled region. (IFFRAS Commentary)