Terrorist attack in Buleda

The relative calm of the last few months in the restive Balochistan province was shattered on Friday when six security personnel, including a major, were martyred and one soldier injured in an IED explosion in Buleda area of Kech district. The so-called Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the terrorist strike. Although insurgency has subsided to a considerable extent, there seems to be a fresh upsurge in violence. At least two incidents of violence involving Baloch militants have been reported during the recent days in Dera Bugti and Shahrug. Tensions had also been brewing in some areas of Kech and Turbat districts.

According to an ISPR statement, the present incident occurred when the FC soldiers were returning to their base after routine patrolling of a mountainous and extremely treacherous terrain of Makran when their vehicle was hit by an explosive device about 14 kilometres from the border with Iran. The patrolling, added the statement, was conducted to check possible routes used by terrorists in the region. Terrorists have been using these routes to launch attacks on either side of the border, creating unnecessary strain on the two countries otherwise friendly relations. In April of last year, Prime Minister Imran Khan went to Iran where he said the most important reason for his visit was the "issue of terrorism", and that his security chief would sit with his Iranian counterpart to discuss ways of cooperation. Aside from several new safety measures adopted by Pakistan, both sides have since evolved a joint border security mechanism. Yet challenges remain due to the treacherous nature of the terrain in some spots. That though is not the only source of trouble. Certain outside powers make no secret of their desire to destabilise this country and also undermine the China Pakistan Economic Corridor, a flagship project of Beijing's Road and Belt Initiative connecting north-western China with the deep sea Gwadar port in Balochistan. Some of the insurgent groups openly acknowledge their links with New Delhi, which has not only been using its consulates in Afghanistan - where BLA has been based - to sponsor militant attacks inside this country through Baloch insurgents as well as TTP terrorists.

It does not help to blame outsiders, however. They, of course, will exploit the situation for their purposes. The powers that be need to review their policy toward that part of the country and address the issues that feed the flames of insurgency, triggered by a long-standing sense of deprivation of political and economic rights and aggravated by the use of force. Political issues are best resolved through political means, high-handed tactics only rile up people. Unfortunately, calls for empowering the province's political leadership to negotiate peace with the 'disgruntled Baloch youth' remain ignored. Hopes of betterment were raised when the present government obtained the support of Baloch National Party leader, Sardar Akhtar Mengal, on the condition it would implement his six-point agenda that included political, developmental and administrative demands, but so far there is little progress. So is the case with Human Rights Minister Shireen Mizari's promise to introduce a bill in Parliament against 'enforced' disappearances. All these issues must be resolved in a satisfactory manner to usher in durable peace in that troubled province.