Mir Sarfraz Bugti, also said he anticipated that the APC would call on all militant groups and tribal chiefs backing them to enter into the effort to build peace.
The bid is obviously a welcome one. We need to do everything we possibly can to restore order in our most troubled province. Talking with the militants seems to be the only option, especially when we consider the fact that they have fairly deep roots amongst the people. A look back at history also reminds us that successive military operations in Balochistan, carried out since the 1950s, have only ended up making things much worse by contributing to the building up of anger and perceptions of injustice.
Given this backdrop, it is important to proceed cautiously and with wisdom. The trust of the Baloch insurgents needs to be won if any progress is to be made. They have been alienated for a very long time and the persons selected to negotiate with them will need to win them over a step at a time. Given this, the home minister’s suggestion that the insurgents are responsible for the mass grave at Khuzdar may not be the best way forward, given an inquiry is still on. What is most important is that mistakes be avoided and everything possible done to make the talks effort work, by first bringing the insurgents to the table and then persuading them to lay down their arms and accept that peace in Balochistan is essential to the welfare of its people.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 7th, 2014.
Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.
COMMENTS (2)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
I have met this beast once in my life (at Serena Hotel Islamabad). I wish never to see him again.