Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Balochistan visit appeared to be more of a crisis management attempt. While no new political dialogue or Balochistan-centric economic package was unveiled, the visit was dominated by security-focused statements.
However, the message Shehbaz Sharif carried came through loud and clear: there will be no leniency towards terrorists, and that Islamabad is paying attention to the province’s development.
Although his visit to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) to inquire after the injured security personnel and reaffirming the nation's resolve against terrorism might have boosted the frontline soldiers’ morale, a robust political engagement strategy was missing from the equation.
Balochistan’s name has unfortunately become synonymous with violence, as the region remains a militant hotspot. Insurgency persists despite multiple military operations in the past, like Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad.
As history has repeatedly shown, military solutions alone do not resolve deeply rooted political conflicts and usually create cycles of violence. While military operations can temporarily disrupt armed groups, such as the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and Baloch Republican Army (BRA), these groups often restructure and resume their activities.
Moreover, core issues like deep-rooted political alienation, economic marginalization, and governance failures keep fueling insurgency, while emergence of new militant factions remains another persistent challenge. In addition, the involvement of external, hostile states in the region complicates counter-insurgency efforts. Despite holding discussions on these areas, no specific roadmap was provided outlining how to bring about substantial changes to the situation.
Lasting peace in the region remains elusive without a multifaceted approach that combines military, administrative, and political efforts. Like the prime minister declared, there was “no room for political division or politics on national issues”, hinting at renewed political reconciliatory efforts.
If implemented properly, the 2009 Aghaz-e-Huqooq-e-Balochistan package-style political engagements are likely to convince saner minds to lay down arms and work for the region’s development. But the question is: would all stakeholders, including nationalist political forces, be brought to the talking table? Considering that the province is stuck in a quagmire of complex issues, comprehensive solutions are required for sustainable progress.
The premier’s visit was important in optics. However, relying solely on post-crisis interventions is an outdated approach that usually fails to bring lasting change. Some tangible, structural reforms should have been announced to alter the deep-rooted grievances of the Baloch people. Instead of being reactive, proactive policies are needed to change the fundamental dynamics of violence and instability.
