The standoff in the desolate horizons of Mach in Balochistan was a grim reminder of the precarious security situation. The 40 hours’ long gunbattle between terrorists and security personnel had brought life to a standstill, and the locals had to weather the inclement weather as well as suspension of electricity, apart from the fear of the unknown. But it goes to the credit of our valiant soldiers that an act of insurgency was put down, and in the duels more than nine terrorists were exterminated. With areas surrounding Mach now cleared from unscrupulous elements, life is limping back to normalcy and the Quetta-Sukkur highway is now open after being closed for three days. But train service is yet to be restored as sections of railway track were uprooted by dreaded elements.
This pitched contest and downslide for almost a week was unnerving, and the resurfacing of Baloch insurgents, especially of BLA elements, is detrimental. This points out that the socio-economic and political unrest in Balochistan is now graduating into a serious military confrontation. This is where some shrewd calculations are needed, and the prime among them is to differentiate between the terror and political revulsion. The state authorities are right in making a fair choice as they believe that nuisance in the form of terrorism must be eliminated, and all those who are eager to strike a working relationship with the government, and serious in redressing their grievances should be accommodated. The policy to come up with developmental packages for the backward areas is a case in point, and Baloch should take pride in the fact that their province is home to the multi-billion dollar CPEC, which is a game changer in the region.
The mess in Mach must be read in the broader context of terror fissures across the country. Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are unfortunately on the receiving end as non-state actors from Afghanistan and elsewhere have an axe to grind. Similarly, the restive province is dotted with sleeper cells, and foreign-funded activists are busy fanning fire. This necessitates a vigilant strategy and one that addresses the issue in a holistic manner.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 2nd, 2024.
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