Chagai killings

The killing of ten workers, including two security guards, at a copper and gold mining site near Chagai is a desperate terrorist act to derail the momentum of development in Balochistan. While the reclusive province is already in the eye of the storm of terrorism, this latest offensive can be read in the wider canvas of geopolitical upheavals, meant to destabilise the country's growing image as a peace broker.

It is also noticeable that vigilant and astute efforts from the security forces, in cooperation with locals, have resulted in ushering in a relatively serene environment in both Balochistan and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, and this is where the enemy is perturbed. Killing of poor miners speaks of a bigger plot to alter the confidence of investors and foreign collaborators in big-ticket businesses.

The same modus operandi was seen as Chinese workforce, associated with the grandiose CPEC project, was targeted earlier. It's a success story for Pakistan to be able to win over foreign entrepreneurs' interest in minerals and rare earth metals exploration, and terrorists acts such as the Chagai mine attack speaks of extraterritorial interference.

Pakistan is passing through a critical phase as its western and eastern frontiers pose open-ended interference, whose cross-currents travel deep into all spheres of national life. With a struggling economy and a delicate political environment, it becomes mandatory to raise the guard and ensure that the merchants of death do not get an opportunity to strike back. Last but not least, with Pakistan now well-placed among the explorers and exporters of rare earth metals, a more stringent policy is desired to watch out for black sheep and saboteurs in cahoots.

Chagai and similar incidents of profiling and cold-blooded murder of labourers must elicit national condemnation, as well as a unified response against segregation and sabotage. A beefed-up policy input is desired from locals and community peers to confront this invisible enemy.