IF the state is to bring peace to Balochistan, then its representatives must face the ground realities. However, holders of high office at times almost trivialise the province’s problems. For example, at an event in Quetta recently, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said there was no insurgency in the province, but that some elements were promoting separatist ideas. He added that it was incorrect to attribute unrest in Balochistan to lack of development. Mr Bugti asked the youth to distinguish between “facts and perceptions”. Not long after his remarks, the military said it had killed at least 33 terrorists over the past few days in the province. Mr Bugti’s comments are similar to those made by the federal interior minister some years back, when he said Balochistan’s terrorism problem could be handled by a station house officer. Many moons after those words, Balochistan continues to suffer from frequent terrorist attacks.

As per one count, there were at least 89 terrorist attacks in Balochistan in August. At times, major highways in the province are cut off by violent elements, while the provincial government has had to place curbs on nighttime travel. Terrorists have stormed towns, and in July, the nation’s top civilian and military leadership rushed to Quetta to take stock of the situation. All these events, taken together, point to a terrorist insurgency, and it would be ill-advised for the state to underplay what is going on in the province. Mr Bugti also said that unrest and backwardness in the province were not linked. This observation is incorrect. The fact is that the province has the poorest socioeconomic indicators in Pakistan, and terrorists exploit this situation to gain recruits and swell their ranks. The need, therefore, is for the state to honestly appraise the situation in Balochistan. Handling the issue involves both kinetic measures to eliminate violent elements — who may be supported by hostile states — and engagement with groups that reject violence and opt for dialogue. But the initial step requires officials to accept the nature and scope of the problem. Balochistan’s people must live in an atmosphere free of terrorism and enjoy a major share of the province’s natural wealth. This goal can only be achieved when the state honestly diagnoses the province’s problems and sincerely strives to address them.

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2026