ISLAMABAD: In a worrisome development, the insurgency in Balochistan is spreading to non-tribal western parts of the province, beyond the traditional stronghold of the rebels, while attacks against security forces by “emboldened insurgents” have risen, according to security sources.
Violence, however, is limited to five of thirty Balochistan districts, with Khuzdar and Turbat the new additions to the list of trouble-hit parts, the sources said. These areas were secure and stable, but are now witnessing growing militant activities.
This new element of the insurgency, led by Allahnazar Baloch of Balochistan Liberation Front, belong to literate, middle-class and non-tribal segments of Baloch society quite unlike the customary insurgent base comprising uneducated tribal fighters.
This security assessment about shifting trends in the insurgency comes with a warning that the “unthinkable situation” could further aggravate if the political leadership does not wake up to the situation.
Balochistan, one official said, was ‘no longer a local issue’. It has acquired international limelight after a US Congressional hearing on the situation in the province. International human rights organisations in their testimony at the congressional body condemned rights abuses by security agencies, including alleged extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances and displacement and called on the US administration to impose sanctions on them (security forces).
The allegations of abuse are also being debated in the country’s parliament, which is set to receive a briefing on the issue next week.
While the security sources, in a background session for explaining the underpinnings of the growing insurgency, continued to repeat the usual allegation that the uprising was inspired by “external element” – a euphemism for hostile foreign intelligence agencies, in particular India, they had a whole litany of complaints against the political leadership, who they say is “indifferent and ineffective”.
“This problem can be largely addressed through effective governance, which is clearly lacking,” one of the source observed.
As an example, they say, the federal government, almost six months back, set up a committee headed by the provincial governor for reaching out to estranged Baloch leaders, but still no one has been contacted.
“There are people, who are reconcilable, but there is no effort to reach out to them,” one official regretted, adding that “there is a political vacuum in the province”.
Massive financial resources have been allocated to address the economic deprivation in the province – believed to be a major factor fuelling Baloch anger towards the federation. Each district, according to a ballpark figure, was given Rs 500 million per annum for development through members of the provincial assembly. But security sources question whether the amount was properly spent?
They contend that the home secretary, who technically heads the civilian law enforcement agencies in the province, was helpless because he was virtually functioning without control over police.
“Incidents of carjacking and kidnapping were traced back to provincial ministers and senior politicians,” one source said, painting a gloomy picture of lawlessness.
The return of levies to ‘B’ category areas of Balochistan is another point of difference between the security agencies and the provincial government. The ‘B’ areas — making up 93 per cent of the province — were during Musharraf era given under police control for maintaining law and order, but the present government, it is said, gave them back to levies, who have allegedly been infiltrated by militants.
