Time has arrived for Balochistan to shed its baggage
The enemy, as the word implies, will do everything and anything to sabotage our ‘best-laid plans’. But, the things ‘go awry’ when those who are our kin turn against us
Let us start with a dose of reality: An average Pakistani knows little and understands even less about Balochistan and the quagmire it has become in recent years. In many minds the province has become an equivalent of a slaughterhouse where massacres, ethnic killings, and separatist movements run riot while government is either too inept to take any action or complicit in perpetuating the dreadful cycle. Anything good coming out of Balochistan has become a rarity.
Those who have a knack for history are aware of the past that led to the present of Balochistan and know well what gnaws at the roots of neglected province. Make no mistake issues like state apathy, deeply-entrenched tribalism, illiteracy, sectarianism, volatile security situation are only symptoms of a deeper malice: sense of alienation due to actual and/or perceived misgivings.
“Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province by size. Balochistan is rich in coal, sulphur, iron ore and other expensive minerals. Its people are hospitable and brave”. Growing up that’s how Balochistan was defined to us, year in, year out, during Pakistan Studies class. It sounded a splendid place where good folks in possession of rich minerals lived on a huge stretch of barren land.
The rosy picture I had of Balochistan met its demise soon. During graduation I came across the long history of insurgency in Balochistan that was conveniently brushed under the rug. The assassination of Nawab Akbar Bugti in 2006 ushered in an era of turmoil that continues till today.
Now, the bruised, injured Balochistan has a chance at redemption offered by China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which is not only the best plan available, but at present the only path we can tread. One needs not to be a seer to know that many a political injustices Baloch people are made victims of have their roots in lack of adequate, steady economic activity in the province. An idle, frustrated, unemployed youth is a near perfect recruit for separatist causes. The solution to the Balochistan quandary lies in jobs and justice. A well-adjusted individual who has some stake, no matter how small, in the system will do his bit to preserve it.
Amidst much fanfare, our premier and army chief saw off the first shipment from Gwadar Port. And thus comes to life China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, a project that has make-or-break importance for an embattled Pakistan; at a time when either we are weary of our many neighbours or they consider us permanent nuisance. First shipping from Gwadar under CPEC inaugurated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and seen off by army chief Raheel Sharif buries the tall claims and empty predictions about civvies and khakis not being on the same page. At least, in all things CPEC, they sure see eye to eye.
A product of decades old friendship, CPEC will benefit more than 40 countries of the world and by year 2025, the year all the projects of CPEC complete, the whole economy will improve exponentially. It is further expected that once completed both Pakistan and China will earn 12 billion dollars annually. Furthermore, oil transportation and the passage for oil import to China will be reduced by more than 9,000km.
Development work in Gwadar, the port and the city, is underway. Gwadar International Airport is the next project in the pipeline and already 25 billion rupees have been allocated by the Pakistani government for safe city project, a 300 megawatt power plant, and construction of roads. Due to security concerns, a special security force will also be formed tasked exclusively with safety and security of the projects.
All of the above is good news. All of the above is currently underway in Balochistan. I don’t want to ruin the festive mood but mere multi-billion projects, touted by politicos and protected by mighty armed forces won’t redress the decades old wounds of Baloch. Labelling Brahamdagh Bugti, the Khan of Kalat, and others as Indian agents hell bent upon damaging the harmony and unity of fatherland is fine. But what about a great many tales of horror that Hazaras endure? What about the attack in August that wiped away an entire generation of lawyers?
Dearest sirs and ma’ams, if it is a war of narratives, then we can only win it after people feel protected and safe in their homes and workplaces. In other words, if our narrative has roots in those whose lives it narrates.
The enemy, as the word implies, will do everything and anything to sabotage our ‘best-laid plans’. But, the things ‘go awry’ when those who are our kin turn against us. If a group of people is neglected, threatened, denied their due, roughed up, silenced and frustrated for far too long, that is precisely why and when they rebel.
I’ve never been to Balochistan but even from the Ivory Tower called Islamabad one can see and sense the difference between press releases and actual story. The mythic creature Phoenix and Balochistan have a lot in common, the difference, however, is former raises anew every time it is reduced to ashes, the former is bound to raise before all that is left are ashes.