There have been warnings from Baloch leaders that the crisis in their province could spiral out of control. When such statements are made by men considered moderate — and some are in the government — it is time to take serious note.

True, Balochistan has been in turmoil for the past several years and has conventionally been a difficult province to govern because the Baloch have refused to submit to Islamabad’s autocratic control. The nature of the crisis has intensified over time and now the province seems to be on the brink as the simmering insurgency has escalated.

But why does it have to be so? The crisis could have been resolved smoothly if Islamabad had displayed more tact in its handling of Balochistan’s demands. Instead it chose a ham-handed approach that has driven the Baloch into a blind corner. What began as a simple call for provincial autonomy to enable the Baloch to control their own resources has turned into a vicious battle against what is seen as an ‘occupation army’.

Recent events seem to justify this hardening of the stance of Baloch nationalists. While their long-standing demands have been ignored by the federal government, a security operation had been going on in full swing until recently to curb Baloch insurgents.

Now, the government has missed the key grievances of the Baloch that need to be addressed urgently. Thus the issue of the missing Baloch remains unresolved. Their numbers run into hundreds. Then came the mysterious killing of the three nationalists whose killers have yet to be traced. In this unhappy situation, promises of development packages by the president and the prime minister as were announced recently amount to a big blow for the Baloch people. Such promises are not something new and they have not improved the conditions of the Baloch before and are not expected to do so now.

Islamabad is also resorting to diversionary tactics. The federal adviser on interior, Mr Rehman Malik, has spoken of the ‘foreign hand’. India and some other countries have been named in this regard. This is a dangerous sign because it shows that Islamabad is allowing itself to be diverted from the main issue.

Even if one were to believe Malik, Pakistan has to answer for creating conditions that have allowed foreign meddling. It is universally recognised that external elements always fish in troubled waters. It would therefore be a better strategy to focus on those issues that have distressed the Baloch.