Balochistan should be given an adequate share in the revenues generated through its resources.
KARACHI: Pakistan has since long been facing several external as well as internal threats. One of the several internal threats facing Pakistan is the Baloch insurgency. Being the largest province of Pakistan, Balochistan is like a jackpot of resources such as natural gas, coal and other important minerals. Indeed, the province is important; yet, it remains highly neglected. Several factors have played their part in causing disaffection amongst the Baloch. Some of these factors include the influx of Afghan refugees in the province, the construction of Gwadar port, extraction of natural gas and last but not the least, a non-serious attitude of the government towards Balochis. It is the high time we resolve the grave issue.
I would like to give some solutions to resolve the insurgency in this troubled province: Balochistan should be given an adequate share in the revenues generated through its resources, it should be considered equal to all the other three provinces, the Baloch must be taken into confidence on the mega project of Gwadar, law-enforcement agencies should correct their harsh attitudes towards Baloch nationalists, security forces should disavow the use of proxy groups and use legitimate state authority to combat sectarian violence. Moreover, stringent checks and balances should be enforced to regulate the influx of Afghan refugees into the province and efforts should be made to promote Baloch culture nationally. Last but not the least, a path of negotiation should be adopted while dealing with those involved in Baloch nationalist movements.
Tariq Faruqi
Published in The Express Tribune, May 11th, 2014.
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