BALOCHISTAN continues to sink into an abyss of violence and despair, with the province once again experiencing a blood-soaked day when armed terrorists descended on an under-construction house in Panjgur town and killed seven sleeping labourers from Multan. The indigent victims, brought by the house owner for construction work, lived on the site. The gruesome episode has sparked censure of security personnel who have turned their back on protecting the people. In fact, more shocking is the fact that the local administration and police appeared to be in the dark about the presence of the slain workers in the area. Meanwhile, at a time when Balochistan is in dire need of a dialogue, the silence from its mainstream nationalist parties has been deafening.

When grief and bloodshed persist, it is the responsibility of all political actors to stand in solidarity with the bereaved and lead the demand for security and justice. Unfortunately, most seem to have chosen political interests over protest; their calculated caution is not just discouraging, it also demonstrates a lack of conviction and moral responsibility to demand decisions from the state for the benefit of the province. The writing is on the wall: Balochistan’s political representatives should know that serving narrow interests will not serve them well in the long run. They must emerge from their constraints to pursue inclusion, progress and equality with a firm strategy and resolve. Moreover, the ethnic aspect of the recent killings is evidence that resentment towards the exploitation of Balochistan’s resources is on the rise. Insurgents, through frequent attacks, seek to incite extensive military action, which lacks approval from the populace and erodes space for political negotiations and dialogue. Politicians need to launch assertive initiatives to prevent non-political intervention, and also to fill the vacuum created by their own reticence. Or else, violent groups deriving power from sociopolitical and economic misery will spin out of control.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2024