In the province of Balochistan on the southwestern edge of Pakistan, violence has become disturbingly routine. It’s a region rich in natural resources and geopolitical significance, yet its story is largely untold outside the corridors of power in Islamabad, Washington, and Beijing. And that’s a problem—because what’s happening in Balochistan could have repercussions far beyond Pakistan’s borders.
Imagine, if you will, a bus journey where the passengers—ordinary men, women, and children—are suddenly thrust into a nightmare as armed men storm the vehicle. These men, hardened by years of conflict, pull off the male passengers, leaving behind women and children to run for their lives. Moments later, the night air is filled with the staccato of gunfire and the gut-wrenching cries of men being executed on the spot.
This isn’t the plot of a Hollywood thriller, but the grim reality that unfolded in Balochistan left nearly two dozen people dead. It is part of a broader wave of violence that claimed at least 74 lives within a 24-hour span.
So, why should the U.S. and the international community care about Balochistan? The answer lies in the interconnected nature of global politics, where even remote conflicts can have far-reaching and unpredictable consequences.
Balochistan is the linchpin in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project critical to China’s global ambitions, including its Belt and Road initiative. The province’s Gwadar Port offers China access to the Arabian Sea and the Middle East.
Balochistan remains one of the most underdeveloped and unstable regions in Pakistan, with the ethnic Baloch locals feeling marginalised by the central government. Their grievances the exploitation of their land’s resources without any tangible benefits to the local population—have fuelled a decades-long insurgency by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), who have demanded greater autonomy or outright independence.
This insurgency might have stayed local, but outside involvement changed the game. Islamabad has accused India of backing Baloch separatists, especially after the capture of Kulbhushan Yadav, who Pakistan claims was running a spy network in Balochistan. Yadav’s arrest and confessions have intensified suspicions that India is fanning the rebellion in Pakistan’s most restive province.
Additionally, Islamist militant groups, including Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), have also entrenched themselves in the province, turning it into a battleground for their sectarian and anti-state agendas. These groups have targeted Shia Muslims, security forces, and even Chinese nationals working on CPEC projects, creating a volatile mix that threatens to destabilise the entire region.
For Pakistan, the situation is a security nightmare. Despite launching multiple military operations and killing dozens of militants, the state has struggled to contain the violence. The porous border with Afghanistan provides militants with a safe haven, complicating Islamabad’s efforts to restore order.
The United States, too, has a stake in what happens next in Balochistan. As tensions rise between Washington and Beijing, the stability of regions like Balochistan becomes increasingly important. If CPEC falters due to instability, it could slow China’s economic rise, impacting global markets in ways that would be felt in New York as much as in Islamabad or Beijing. Furthermore, the spread of extremist ideologies in Balochistan could eventually find its way back to the West, as has happened with other conflict zones.
If insurgents are for better governance, fair distribution of resources, and respect for their cultural identity, then they are reasonable, and the authorities in Islamabad need to take care of it. On the other hand, if the insurgents only intend to blackmail, Islamabad needs to come hard on them. Beijing, the US, and the entire world should help Pakistan to quell militancy in Balochistan.
Washington must recognise the province’s strategic importance and support efforts to address the root causes of the conflict—poverty, underdevelopment, and political disenfranchisement. This means encouraging Islamabad to pursue a more inclusive approach, one that prioritises dialogue over brute force. Second, the international community must press all the forces to end their proxy battles in Balochistan. Islamabad needs support on a large scale to quell militancy in Balochistan.
Finally, the U.S. should work with Pakistan to counter the growing influence of Islamist militant groups in the province. This requires more than just military cooperation; it involves supporting educational and economic initiatives that can offer young Baloch a viable alternative to joining extremist organisations.
The situation in Balochistan is complex, and there are no easy solutions. But as the violence continues to spiral out of control, the cost of doing nothing becomes increasingly untenable. For the sake of regional and global security, it’s time the world starts helping Pakistan in its fight against militancy and terrorism.
Because in a world as interconnected as ours, the conflicts that seem far away are often closer than we think!
(The writer is a senior jounalist based in Islamabad. Views personal)
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