Karachi: First it was the settlers, then labourers from other provinces, and now it is the local Pakhtuns. Last month’s carnage of labourers working on a dam, followed by the execution-style killing of bus passengers in Mastung, signals a dangerous turn in the insurgency in Balochistan.
The latest assault targeting Pakhtuns is indeed an ominous sign sparking new tensions in the troubled province. Intriguingly, it occurred in the same region where sectarian militant groups have also targeted buses carrying Shia pilgrims. Is it just a coincidence or does it indicate something more sinister?
A shadowy Baloch separatist group, the United Baloch Army, has claimed responsibility for the latest bus attack in which passengers were gunned down after their ethnic identity was confirmed. The UBA is led by Mehran Marri, the younger brother of Hyrbyair Marri, head of the Balochistan Liberation Army that has reportedly been involved in most of the terrorist attacks in the province. The two groups have recently been engaged in a bitter turf war.
The motive behind the latest attack targeting Pakhtuns is not yet clear. Balochistan has seen four major armed insurgencies over the last six decades. But the latest has been the longest, leaving a much deeper impact on the Baloch population. Unlike in the past, when insurgencies mostly revolved around a few tribes, this uprising has had a much wider support base, particularly among the educated.
The brutalities carried out by the security agencies further fuelled alienation driving many to align themselves with separatist organisations. The growing number of “missing persons” and the dumping of bodies has turned more people against the state. A plausible reason for the recent escalation in attacks on civilians could be to destabilise the nationalist government in the province. The return of nationalists to the political process and their participation in the 2013 elections came as a huge setback to the separatist cause.
Although the voter turnout in strife-affected Baloch areas was low, the electorate ignored the boycott plea. Widening differences among them that often led to bloody clashes further weakened the separatist groups. While there are more than half a dozen militant groups operating in Balochistan there had not been any instance of their fighting against each other despite rivalries.
This internecine war is believed to have weakened their capacity to challenge the security forces. Many of the separatist leaders are living a comfortable life in Europe which has caused serious fissures within the groups. According to an insider, this has generated resentment among the fighters who feel betrayed by their leaders. The space for militant groups to operate further has shrunk with the security forces intensifying their offensive, eliminating even those suspected of having any link with the insurgents. The use of brute force has drawn condemnation from human rights agencies, but with little effect on the security agencies.
It is surely convenient for the government to put the blame for the insurgency on Indian agencies. It may be true that insurgents receive support from outside. But Baloch discontent is rooted in deprivation.
No doubt the state has to act when its writ is threatened but the unrestrained use of power generates alienation. That is exactly what has happened in Balochistan. Indeed, those responsible for the terrorist attacks must be apprehended, but this should not be a licence for the indiscriminate use of force. Revenge could get the separatists fresh recruits. It is apparent that the motive behind the bus massacre was to create fear. The perpetrators may not be successful in breaking the bonds between the Baloch and Pakhtuns, but the government faces a major challenge.
While going after militants, the state also needs to heal the wounds of the Baloch. No economic development can work if it fails to change the lot of the common man. The issue of the missing still remains a major cause of Baloch distrust. This situation has to be resolved to restore the confidence of the Baloch in the government. It is more important to focus on the internal factors fuelling discontent than to look for foreign hands in the turmoil.
By arrangement with Dawn
