Baluchistan crisis

    Baluchistan is the largest province, present in the westernmost region of Pakistan sharing its border with Afghanistan, Iran, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, and the Arabian sea. It encompasses 42% of Pakistan’s total land but has the lowest population of 12.35 million as of 2019. The people of Baluchistan can be distinguished into three major ethnic groups, mainly of Bloch, Pashtun, and sandhi origin. Whereas Balochi, Brahui, Pashto, and Sindhi are its main languages. The capital of Baluchistan is Quetta.

    Most of the province is usually dry with extremes of hot and cold temperature. Agriculture is limited by the scarcity of water, power, and adequate transportation facilities. These atmospheric conditions and lack of development are also the reason for the province's low population. The main crops of Baluchistan are wheat, jowar, and rice, while most of the people raise sheep which provide high-quality wool, part of which is also exported. Baluchistan compromise of the small-scale industry which includes cotton and woolen manufacturing, food processing, carpet making, textile and leather embroidery, small machinery and appliance manufacturing, and handicrafts. Baluchistan also possesses a great amount of some explored and other unexplored natural resources. The explored main resources include coal, chromite, barytes, Sulphur, marbles, iron ores, quartzite, limestone, and natural gas reserves. Besides, Baluchistan also rich in other unexplored minerals and riches that can rejuvenate the economic condition of the province.

    Despite being the largest province of Pakistan's geo-strategical location, bordering the Arabian sea making it potent for global trade and its enormous natural resources, Baluchistan is the most underdeveloped province of the country with insurgencies waging throughout the province. The present picture of the province depicts worsening education, health, infrastructure, economical condition. While the political relation of Baluchistan has never been favorable with the federation. Its populace has always criticized the federation for its lack of interest in the development of the province and for draining its resources to benefit other provinces. The lack of trust between the federation and the provincial population has led to the creation of different militant groups and human rights activists such as the Baluchistan Liberation Army based in Afghanistan. These groups and activists are not purely working for benefiting the cause of development but some of these groups and activists have other motivations and are aided by foreign countries to prevent the province from developing and stabilizing. These motivations can be evaluated by attacks of these militant groups on CPEC projects that can play a key role in rejuvenating its economic condition. The tribal system of Baluchistan which is usually headed by the tribal chieftains termed as sardars in the local language also creates hurdles in the development of the province, fearing loss of their authority over the people. On the other hand, lack of education among the people of Baluchistan is also the reason for its present situation as people prefer using guns rather than bringing reformation in their political structure through public institutes.

    The insurgencies in Baluchistan have resulted in tremendous loss of life in addition to the destabilization of the region. While these insurgencies and militant attacks are not limited to the liberation movement but have historical ties the Soviet-Afghan War lasted for 9 years. This war was mainly fought by mujaheddin militants who were backed and trained by the United States of America. The war resulted in the destruction of Afghanistan and contributed to the soviet collapse. After the war ended these mujaheddin groups were left rampant, eventually, these militant groups flourished throughout Afghanistan and neighboring countries. The militant groups that were established in the name of Islam against foreign invasion soon lost their way and turned into terrorist organizations leading to further destruction of Afghanistan and affecting Pakistan to a great extent.     The Baluchistan province due to border with Afghanistan and its landscape offering perfect hideouts became a heaven for these terrorist organization. These terrorist organizations were also used by some foreign countries to spread anti-Islamic narrative and destabilizing Pakistan mostly affecting the Baluchistan region. The Pakistan army crackdown against these militant groups to stabilize the region was also termed as a military attack against Baluchistan’s liberation, deepening the difference between the federation and Baluchistan.

    The condition of Baluchistan seems far from reinvigoration but if sincere efforts are made, it can lead to normalization and betterment of the province. The CPEC project can also be termed as a sincere effort of the federation in collaboration with China to uplift Baluchistan’s economy and providing new opportunities for its populace. Besides, the federation is also working on constructing various small and big dams to solve the issue of water in the province. undoubtedly these initiatives with help in uplifting the region. However, efforts are required in the betterment of its educational and health sector while upgrading and building new infrastructure across the province and also giving the province more autonomy will help the government in regaining the lost trust of the provincial populace. In return, the people of Baluchistan shall also collaborate with its government and understand that confrontation through violence will only worsen their situation and education, and the use of public institutions is the only way to make their voices heard.