Balochistan - insurgency to integration

Nations are not tested in moments of calm but in seasons of strain. Balochistan today stands at such a juncture, where grief, resilience and hard choices intersect. For years, every major terrorist incident in Pakistan has triggered a familiar chorus that intelligence agencies were negligent, that institutions were asleep, that the state has failed.

Sorrow and anger are human responses to violence, yet the reflex to treat every attack as proof of total collapse oversimplifies a far more complex battlefield. Intelligence is not a crystal ball. It is a continuous contest between the state and adaptive adversaries who evolve, hide and exploit unpredictability. The conversation on Balochistan must therefore move beyond emotional reaction and toward a sober appraisal of facts, trends and responsibilities.

The numbers from the last three years reveal a decisive shift. In 2024, around 2070 terrorists were eliminated in Balochistan, the highest figure recorded until that point. In 2025, that number was reduced to 780. In the opening weeks of 2026 alone, 282 militants have already been neutralised, including 51 killed in the January 29 encounter, 171 during Operation Radd-ul Fitna and 60 in subsequent sanitisation operations.

These statistics do not represent random skirmishes; they reflect a sustained campaign. In 2025, security forces conducted a record 58,778 intelligence-based operations across the province. Such frequency underscores both the scale of the threat and the state's growing capacity to penetrate hostile networks. The claim that vast tracts of Balochistan remain beyond state control is increasingly detached from operational reality. Political and military leadership have publicly affirmed that no area is a no-go zone anymore, signalling a determination to restore writ across every district. However, the vastness of Balochistan does have saturating effects on forces operating in the province.

Numbers alone cannot capture the complexity of Balochistan's situation. The unrest is largely confined to specific pockets while majority of the province remains relatively stable, inaccurate to portray the entire province as uniformly alienated. Repeated dependence on traditional Sardars has failed to produce lasting peace, and reinforcing the same political patterns risks repeating old mistakes. The current militancy increasingly reflects the influence of misled youth shaped by radical narratives rather than purely tribal command, and glorifying armed resistance without acknowledging this manipulation only deepens the instability.

The external dimension cannot be ignored. Insurgencies of this sophistication do not sustain themselves on rhetoric alone. Technical and strategic backing from hostile actors, including India, and facilitation from across the Afghan border, have complicated the state's counterinsurgency efforts. Modern technology, intelligence operations and targeted actions against financiers and facilitators are now central to Pakistan's strategy, aiming to dismantle the insurgents' networks while preventing foreign interference from taking root.

History reminds us that even the most advanced systems can fail, as seen in the September 11 attacks despite America's vast intelligence apparatus, yet the response focused on reform, coordination and long-term resolve rather than endless blame. Counterinsurgency, whether in Waziristan or Balochistan, demands patience, integrated intelligence, meticulous governance and consistent narrative clarity. Securing and holding cleared areas, strengthening governance through measures such as merging B Areas into A Areas, and ensuring development is deprived to ordinary citizens are essential to prevent relapse and build durable stability.

Law enforcement agencies work tirelessly around the clock, conducting surveillance, arrests and intelligence operations, but the fight against terrorism and organised crime cannot rely on them alone. The true strength of security lies in public participation through Community Intelligence, where citizens stay alert and report suspicious activities, unusual movements or extremist networks.

In areas like Balochistan, where militants exploit so-called local grievances or hide within communities, timely reporting can disrupt recruitment, logistics and safe havens, multiplying the state's capacity to prevent violence. Globally, from neighbourhood watch programmes to structured citizen reporting systems, public cooperation has proven essential in dismantling criminal and extremist networks, building trust, reducing fear and denying terrorists the anonymity they rely on.

Balochistan stands at a crossroads defined by resolve. Building on these efforts, the path to lasting peace in Balochistan lies not only in operations and intelligence but in the broader integration of society into the state's vision of stability. When governance is visible, development is tangible and citizens feel both protected and empowered, the appeal of militancy diminishes.

Education, economic opportunities and inclusive participation must complement security measures, creating an environment where the next generation sees a future within the national mainstream rather than on the margins of conflict. In this way, Balochistan at the crossroads of Resolver can turn the tide from reactive counterinsurgency to proactive nation-building, ensuring that the province is not just a theatre of conflict but a model of resilience, unity and progress for the country as a whole.