Crackdown in Balochistan launched

In a decisive move, the government has launched a crackdown in Balochistan aimed at blocking grey channels of funding, including foreign sources funnelled to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international NGOs (INGOs). This is part of a broader effort to disrupt the financial networks of terrorist organisations operating in the region, which have long targeted the development projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Balochistan has emerged as a hotspot for terrorist activities orchestrated by various organisations whose primary goal is to derail the CPEC initiatives.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has made it clear that the government will not compromise on the CPEC initiative, and discussions are already underway between Pakistan and China to move forward with CPEC Phase 2.

Additionally, the government has announced a significant shift in its logistics strategy, intending to reroute 60% of freight transportation from Karachi port to the underutilised Gwadar port, as part of a strategic effort to make Gwadar fully operational. This decision is expected to have far-reaching implications, as Central Asian states, and even Russia, have expressed interest in gaining access to Gwadar for their trade routes. However, some of Pakistan's allied nations have raised concerns, fearing that the operationalisation of Gwadar port could divert significant cargo traffic away from other regional ports.

China, a key player in CPEC, is particularly keen on utilising Gwadar port as it would shorten its shipping routes by approximately 3,000 kilometres, thus enhancing trade efficiency. Furthermore, Gwadar's status as a deep-sea port presents vast opportunities for increasing maritime traffic, provided the necessary security and operational frameworks are in place.

Sources indicate that terrorist organisations active in Balochistan have ties to rival nations and foreign interests that oppose CPEC and activities at Gwadar port.

To address these threats, the government has now formed a high-level committee tasked with exploring all viable options to choke off funding streams to these terrorist networks.

Sources told The Express Tribune that the committee, composed of the Minister for Law & Justice, the Secretaries of Foreign Affairs, Economic Affairs, Interior, Finance, and Law & Justice, is expected to develop a comprehensive action plan to block funding sources to alien organisations operating in the province.

According to the committee's Terms of Reference, the review will focus on identifying the financial channels through which NGOs and INGOs receive foreign funding. The aim is to block any grey or opaque channels and ensure complete transparency in all funding sources, ensuring that any funds received by these organisations are used solely for their intended purposes.

In a recent cabinet meeting, the Ministry of Interior highlighted the importance of legal measures to counter terrorism. The Ministry reminded the cabinet that Section 11EEEE of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, had been amended in 2014 to empower the government and authorised Armed Forces or Civil Armed Forces to conduct preventive detention of individuals suspected of terrorist activities. This provision, designed to enable pre-emptive action by security agencies, allowed for the detention of suspects for up to three months, ensuring thorough investigations and the prevention of potential terrorist attacks. However, the provision expired in 2016 due to a sunset clause.

Since its expiration, Balochistan has seen a noticeable increase in terrorist activities. Insurgent groups have grown more sophisticated and coordinated, resulting in a rise in deadly incidents and widespread damage to critical infrastructure across the province. This alarming trend has prompted calls for the reintroduction of Section 11EEEE to strengthen the government's legal framework in dealing with these threats.

The government now believes that the reactivation of this provision is essential to enable law enforcement and military forces to detain individuals who pose a serious risk to national security, providing the necessary tools to combat the escalating insurgency in Balochistan.