Balochistan front

Balochistan's security situation is a growing concern, and warrants a growing focus. A theatre of Indian meddling, Balochistan needs to be treated with a holistic strategy, in all earnest, to bring the much-needed calm and peace to it. With our archrival on our eastern border, after conceding an all too evident defeat in the kinetic domain last month, now aggressively vocal about inflicting a two-front war on us - one of the fronts being the terrorism-hit Balochistan - it has become even more important to make our southwestern province our primary focus. It's thus good to see the state swing into action to pay attention to the imbroglio that our restive province has been mired in for long.

This past Sunday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir attended a jirga meant to strengthen engagement with the tribal leadership as part of the state's strategy to address the evolving security situation in Balochistan. Addressing on the occasion, the Prime Minister and the Army Chief reaffirmed the state's firm resolve to eradicate terrorism and counter Indian-sponsored proxy warfare in the desolate province.

That there should be no compromise on peace and security in Balochistan goes without saying. The state must take on the merchants of death and destruction - operating at the behest of the enemy against their own countrymen - firmly and ruthlessly. Simultaneously though, the state needs to show some magnanimity - towards those that are reconcilable. Disgruntled elements nursing genuine grievances can easily be separated from the terrorists through political outreach. While the jirga of tribal elders has made a unanimous pledge to stand shoulder to shoulder with the government and the armed forces in the fight against terrorists, this forum should also be tapped to approach the reconcilable elements so as to bring them back from the brink.