About the Author(s)
Alishba Zulfiqar
The author is an undergraduate student of International Relations (IR) at Government College University Lahore (GCUL).
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and most resource-rich province, is, once again, in the global spotlight— not because of its untapped potential, but because of the blood that continues to stain its soil. A series of coordinated militant attacks in the region have taken over 70 lives, bringing back to the surface Balochistan’s record as a troubled region where the security situation has been fragile for decades. It is during these tragic moments that the world silently watches happen, culminating as a longing tale of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
With vast natural resources in terms of minerals, natural gas, and the Gwadar port, making it a vital point in Pakistan’s economic and geopolitical ambitions, the province is one of the most underdeveloped and politically marginalized regions in Pakistan. The people of Balochistan have historically expressed grievances concerning the neglect of the central government, which has escalated into an insurgency marked by violence calling for autonomy or secession. The CPEC Conundrum A complex game-changer for Pakistan’s economy, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is, in a way, a flashpoint in Balochistan. The promises of infrastructure development and economic growth have been met with indifference from many Baloch who could be feeling marginalized even more. Indeed, it is their views that the benefits are not reaching them, with most of the jobs and resources going to other Pakistan territories, or even worse, most of them going abroad to Chinese amongst other foreigners.
Insurgent groups, in particular target the Gwadar port essential to CPEC. They regard it as a reminder of oppression, where the revenues from Balochistan resources are being transplanted to serve Islamabad and Beijing glitterati at their weigh‚the poor natives getting poorer day by day. The recent assaults that have been enough to keep the launching of Gawadar’s new airport are prelude for this level of resistance.
The Human Price of Strategic Ambitions:
The human cost of Balochistan’s strategic location is huge. This year’s attacks by armed militants were a stark reminder of the war that has been bleeding Afghanistan dry for years. Troops, rebels and civilians have been ensnared in the crossfire of a conflict with no sign of abating. There has been heavy-handedness in government responses, with security operations that sometimes have a “blurring of combatants versus non-combatants” category which further alienates the local populations.
The hardline view within the establishment is evident from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s warning to leave “no space for hate” in Balochistan and his resolve not to enter into dialogue with insurgents. Yet to nurture more violence on our way through the unresolved political disenfranchisement and economic deprivation which propel the insurgency.
Human Rights Predicament and Call for International Attention:
The Balochistan fiasco is not an internal affair but rather a serious human rights issue which calls for international attention. Reports of enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings, and systematic suppression of dissent are cause for alarm. These human rights abuses have been pointed out time and again by human rights organizations, local and international; most of the time, their voices for accountability fall on deaf ears. All this time, because of the strategic importance of Pakistan, the international community, especially the West, has turned a blind eye to these violations. Without addressing these human rights abuses, a sustainable solution of the Balochistan crisis is not possible. It is here that international organizations and governments should urge Pakistan to respect human rights; they must ensure that the developing projects, including CPEC, are done with full participation and at the consent of the Baloch people themselves. This approach would go a long way in regaining lost confidence and also clear the path for permanent peace and stability in the region.
Environmental Degradation in a Time of War:
Recent event when thousands of dead fish wriggling in the ship-breaking area near Keamari, Karachi were only a grim reminder that Balochistan’s people are paying ecological costs for Pakistan’s meddling policies and their inherent violence. While this happened in Karachi, where a disastrous tide of toppling containers and oil river flowed from the port into coastal waters to remind us how pervasive such environmental challenges are for Balochistan’s coastlines; with pollution which makes your skin crawl and unsustainable practices risking both livelihoods as well ecosystems.
Reaching a conclusion:
Balochistan is a complex cauldron of historical grievances, strategic interests and socio-economic challenges. And as the province continues to hemorrhage it is evident a military resolution on its own will not deliver peace. Sustainable resolution from this historical perspective would need a holistic approach, which honors the genuine rights of Baloch people to have more autonomy in their affairs and equitable distribution of mineral resources as well as fair share in decision making that matters for them.
The future of Balochistan is contingent on all stakeholders, whether local, national or international coming to the table and talking about what really matters—the well-being of its people instead of their strategies. It is this potential that needs to be unlocked, making Balochistan — not a real worse than any battleground but the bedrock on which Pakistan prospers and keeps peace.
