Farewell to arms: Balochistan’s renewed policy bearing fruit

Over 2,000 separatists laid down arms to security forces in last two years

ISLAMABAD: The renewed policy of Islamabad for Balochistan is bearing fruit as more than 2,000 suspected separatists have surrendered to security forces in last two years.

In addition, around 200 insurgents handed over themselves to security forces recently under a general amnesty which promises money and a government job in return, revealed National Action Plan Review-2017 issued by National Counter Terrorism Authority, highlighting steps towards reconciliation.

The effort to court Baloch separatists has been appreciated.

In recent years, the government has also embarked on a strategy to address some of the province’s main grievances.

The review said hundreds of Baloch students have been granted scholarships by universities in Punjab.

Separatist leader Nawabzada Gazain Marri returned to Pakistan after a decade in self-imposed exile, a development seen as another government success in soothing tensions.

Moreover, the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan initiative ensured representation of Balochistan in the country’s top institutions, including army where 13,200 Baloch youths have been inducted while 580 more completed their training in December 2017.  Besides Mastung, three more cadet colleges have been established in the province, 67 youth from Balochistan had been recruited in Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), three in Civil Defence Department, 68 in PWD, 70 in Utility Stores Corporation, seven in Planning and Development Division, 50 in Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and three in Ministry of Defence.

Employment quota of 6.0 per cent for Balochistan had also been reserved in offices such as National Database and Registration Authority. The review said launch of Khushal Balochistan initiative announced in November 2017 was aimed at development and to promote socio-economic development and security across the province.

The government also announced a 10-year uplift package worth Rs20 billion for development of Balochistan that was aimed at elevating the province at par with other developed areas of the country. The intelligence based operations carried out by law enforcement agencies have also notably ameliorated the security situation of Balochistan.

Many separatist militants laid down their weapons under Balochistan political reconciliation policy.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 29^th, 2018.