Pakistan is facing a growing crisis in its southwestern province of Balochistan, where decades-old separatist unrest has claimed dozens of lives in recent attacks. The region, which is Pakistan's largest by land area, has been plagued by violence for years.
According to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), the deadliest attacks yet have taken place this week, leaving more than 100 people dead. The group claims it is fighting for an independent Balochistan, fueling concerns about the security situation in the region.
In Islamabad, Pakistan's government blames its enemies for the violence, but critics argue that a lack of progress on addressing the underlying grievances driving the unrest has emboldened the separatist movement.
To break the cycle of violence in Balochistan, experts say it will require a sustained effort to engage with local leaders and address the economic and social concerns that are driving the separatist movement. This may involve concessions on issues such as autonomy or greater control over natural resources.
Raashid Wali Janjua, director of research at Islamabad Policy Research Institute, notes that Pakistan needs to focus on addressing the grievances of Balochistan's youth, who are increasingly dissatisfied with the lack of opportunities and investment in their province. "The government needs to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the Baloch people to address their concerns and find a peaceful solution," he says.
Sanaullah Baloch, leader of the Balochistan National Party, agrees that economic development is key to resolving the conflict. "Pakistan has neglected Balochistan for too long, ignoring its vast potential for economic growth," he argues. "If we can unlock this potential, many of the grievances driving the separatist movement will be alleviated."
Ayesha Siddiqa, senior research fellow at Defence Studies Department at King's College London, warns that Pakistan cannot afford to ignore the crisis in Balochistan. "This is not just a matter of internal security; it has broader implications for regional stability and global terrorism," she cautions.
As the situation in Balochistan continues to deteriorate, it remains to be seen whether the government can find a way out of this forgotten war that has been simmering for decades.
According to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), the deadliest attacks yet have taken place this week, leaving more than 100 people dead. The group claims it is fighting for an independent Balochistan, fueling concerns about the security situation in the region.
In Islamabad, Pakistan's government blames its enemies for the violence, but critics argue that a lack of progress on addressing the underlying grievances driving the unrest has emboldened the separatist movement.
To break the cycle of violence in Balochistan, experts say it will require a sustained effort to engage with local leaders and address the economic and social concerns that are driving the separatist movement. This may involve concessions on issues such as autonomy or greater control over natural resources.
Raashid Wali Janjua, director of research at Islamabad Policy Research Institute, notes that Pakistan needs to focus on addressing the grievances of Balochistan's youth, who are increasingly dissatisfied with the lack of opportunities and investment in their province. "The government needs to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the Baloch people to address their concerns and find a peaceful solution," he says.
Sanaullah Baloch, leader of the Balochistan National Party, agrees that economic development is key to resolving the conflict. "Pakistan has neglected Balochistan for too long, ignoring its vast potential for economic growth," he argues. "If we can unlock this potential, many of the grievances driving the separatist movement will be alleviated."
Ayesha Siddiqa, senior research fellow at Defence Studies Department at King's College London, warns that Pakistan cannot afford to ignore the crisis in Balochistan. "This is not just a matter of internal security; it has broader implications for regional stability and global terrorism," she cautions.
As the situation in Balochistan continues to deteriorate, it remains to be seen whether the government can find a way out of this forgotten war that has been simmering for decades.
the problem is not just the ppl on both sides its the fact that the gov is still using 200k+ year old pics from protests and claiming it was a civil unrest 
meanwhile the actual problems are being ignored by all parties involved.
. I mean, come on Pakistan gov, stop blaming others and take responsibility for your own failures. The youth in Balochistan are just trying to get opportunities and be heard, but you're too busy ignoring them like that's gonna magically fix everything. Give autonomy or natural resource control, who cares? At least they'll have a say in their own future 
. It's not rocket science. And btw, what's with the BLA being super deadly lately? Is it just trying to get attention? 
. Like, I get it, separatist movements can be super complex and have deep roots, but 100+ people dead is just heartbreaking 
. I think the government needs to step up their game and engage with local leaders ASAP 
. We need to address those economic and social concerns that are driving this unrest - it's not just about autonomy or natural resources, it's about giving the Baloch people a sense of hope and investment in their future 
. And let's be real, if Pakistan wants to tackle global terrorism and regional stability, they gotta take care of this issue first 
️
100+ lives lost in one week 
is already 
too much! 
than to be treated like they're invisible 
Pakistan needs to GET. IT. TOGETHER 
and address the real issues, not just blame everyone else 
#BalochistanDeservesBetter 
, but it's also got some major issues like water scarcity and lack of infrastructure... it can't be fixed overnight 
.
. If Pakistan wants to address this crisis, they need to listen to the young people and give them a say in what happens next 
. Otherwise, it's just gonna keep on going down the same old path 
you know, i feel like pakistan is stuck in this never-ending loop of violence and unrest, and it's getting harder to imagine a peaceful solution 
. i'm not sure what the solution is, but i do know that we can't just sit back and wait for things to get worse...we need to find a way to engage with the locals and work together to create positive change 
. The youth are fed up with no jobs or opportunities in Balochistan - it's a ticking time bomb 
. And don't even get me started on the resources... Pakistan's been sitting on all that natural gas and mineral wealth for years, but has it invested any of it back into the province? Nope 
.
. Time 4 Pakistan 2 listen 2 the Baloch ppl & address their concerns 
.
. u gotta talk to the locals, address their concerns about econ dev and job creation...cuz thats whats driving this separatist drama in the first place 
i mean ayesha siddiqa is like, super right on point about how this aint no joke 4 regional stability and global terrorism...we gotta think bout the bigger pic here 
The situation in Balochistan is super sad and frustrating 
The government needs to be more transparent and show that they care about the future of Balochistan 
They need to work together with local leaders to find a peaceful solution 