A change in establishment’s mindset

Prerequisite for peace in Balochistan

There has been a lull in terror attacks for the past few weeks. But in this hotbed of mischief-makers of all sorts – terrorists, nationalists and sectarian militants, feudal lords involved in kidnapping for ransom and murder – the security situation in Balochistan is anything but normal. The other day’s attack on a train – killing seven, injuring many more – has again hit the spotlight. The incident combined with the warning issued by doctors working in Balochistan that they would resign en masse if the government failed in providing them security and retrieving their abducted colleague, paints quite a bleak picture.

Many had thought that with the new government, more particularly a working class CM instead of a sardar in office, the situation would rapidly improve. That remains an elusive goal, though the present dispensation is a whole lot better than its predecessor. The dynamic of the multifaceted Balochsitan conundrum has kept changing over time, but for two persistent aspects: the establishment forever branding Baloch nationalists as enemies, and the absence of an assertive government that could keep the former at bay. It is critical that the establishment understands that people are above everything, not its contorted view of what stands for national interest. The establishment must be a part of the solution; with its mindset, it is a part of the problem. That needs to change. The successive governments in Balochistan have added to the plight with their massive corruption and extremely poor governance. The incumbent CM, who seems to be a huge improvement, is powerless in crucial matters: such as seeking international assistance for quake victims and talks with the militants. The inclusion of powerful sardars, nawabs and other influential personalities in the administration maybe expedient in the province but it makes any chance of obtaining peace a distant possibility, more so when some of these sardars are known to be involved in kidnapping for ransom and other crimes. Even so, Federal Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique’s statement – the government wouldn’t have peace talks with Baloch nationalists – is a blatant case of bias and double standards. While the government Saad Rafique represents is hell bent on talks with the Taliban on a killing spree, why shy away from the same with the Baloch nationalists?

The situation in the country’s largest and resource-rich province would not improve unless a firm action, an action that is led by the CM to enforce civilian government’s writ, is taken against the terrorists and sectarian militants, and there is a change of mindset on the part of the establishment.