Out of box solutions for Balochistan

Non-military options should be given a chance

The Mastung killings were no ordinary act of terrorism. Passengers travelling by two coaches were kidnapped, their ethnic background checked and more than 20 Pashtuns were executed in cold blood. The killings had a sinister purpose i.e., initiating a wave of reprisals and counter-reprisals between the Baloch and Pashtun sections of population who despite differences have lived harmoniously together over centuries. It goes to the credit of the elected government and the opposition parties that they worked together to foil the conspiracy.

As the Prime Minster came to Quetta to attend the APC there were expectations that he would bring innovative ideas to put an end to terrorism in the province. Nawaz Sharif however didn’t go beyond congratulating the provincial government for keeping the situation under control. In a passing reference to India, he said the enemy didn’t want to see Pakistan moving forward on the path of development but we will achieve the goal of progress and prosperity. The empty assurances would not heal the wounds created by scores of terrorist attacks. They are also not likely to bring down the incidence of terrorist attacks.

Over the last two years the government has done no out of the box thinking to cope with lawlessness in a province which is to play a key role in the CPEC. The Quetta corps commander’s determination to drag the terrorists out of their dens indicates that the government has no option other than military action which has gone on for years. Intelligence based targeted action has no doubt achieved partial success against TTP components. The incidence of attacks on Hazara community has come down. There is however a need to think why reliance on force alone has achieved little in the case of separatist groups which have not only proliferated but have also increased their attacks. What is required is to give a chance to non-military options to put an end to ethnic based militancy.