Terror revisits Balochistan in a dare-devil attempt to test the nation’s resilience. Two back to back attempts targeted at police personnel in Quetta, which killed four and injured more than two dozen people, was apparently in reprisal. Most of the injured were women and children, as the motorcycle-planted explosives were placed at a thoroughfare. While the impugned Balochistan Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for the attacks, it conveniently connects the dots with the high-profile arrest of Gulzar Iman, alias Shambay, who heads a conglomerate of terror units, including the so-called Baloch National Army. The fact that the restive province has been a theatre of terror activities for quite some time, with the express intent of targeting security forces and CPEC manpower, goes on to link it with the great game of sabotage that is being played in the region. The Baloch secessionist activities are part of the design, and are bent upon exploiting the socio-economic fissures in the deprived society. This aspect is in need of being studied at length, and ploughed out by employing not only the element of force but also grand politico-economic incentives.
Monday’s attacks must also be seen in the light of the National Security Committee’s meeting over the weekend, as it resolved to go after the terror nexus without any hindrance. Perhaps, the dreaded elements want to test the waters of state’s resolve, and one should be prepared for more eventualities. This year the country has witnessed a higher number of attacks countrywide, and the situation has turned more critical since the return of TTP elements from Afghanistan. This presents a horrible security scenario, and cannot be addressed with event to event piecemeal responses. The decision of the NSC to take out the terror nexus must see the light of the day, and in the parameters of Balochistan in a more coordinated manner by making use of socio-economic tools. Likewise, a purge is long due to comb out the abettors and sleeping cells, spread across the country, who make use of grievances in the society to further their ulterior designs.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 12th, 2023.
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