'Dialogue, not bullets,' only path to peace in Balochistan

A senior security official has urged for a fresh political and strategic approach to Balochistan, asserting that force alone cannot resolve the province's complex issues. In an interview with journalists in Quetta, the official emphasized that the path to peace lies in sustained dialogue with ordinary Baloch people, rather than resorting to violence.

He stressed that the real issue lay in the narrative surrounding Balochistan, noting that while the challenges were serious, they were not insurmountable. The official proposed a 10-year strategic plan for the province, emphasizing the need for long-term solutions over short-term responses to security crises. He acknowledged genuine grievances among the Baloch population, but cautioned against allowing concerns to be amplified or exploited for political gain.

The official highlighted that authorities had engaged with around 54,000 people in Balochistan last year and another 34,000 this year, urging the state to focus on ordinary citizens rather than notables and sardars who exploit the situation. He identified political deprivation as a central problem, pointing out the province's lack of representation in the National Assembly and the absence of mainstream political parties.

The official blamed elite capture and corruption for hindering development, noting that a significant portion of Balochistan's economy remained outside the formal system. He described the province as the center of an emerging contest over strategic resources, emphasizing its mineral wealth and strategic location. The official warned that regional and international power competition posed threats to Balochistan's stability.

He identified four categories of threats, including kinetic terrorism, non-kinetic activity, sub-kinetic activity, and socially disruptive proxies, and alleged the involvement of foreign-backed terrorist networks. He claimed that Pakistan had sought the return of wanted terrorists and issued red notices against several of them. The official connected the recent surge in terrorism to post-US withdrawal developments from Afghanistan, noting that 1,263 terrorists had been killed this year.

He also reported a significant reduction in smuggling, citing a drop in Iranian oil smuggling from 20 million litres a day to about one million litres. The official stressed that security measures alone could not bring lasting peace, calling for a policy shift that combines political engagement, development, security, and diplomacy, and emphasized the need for diplomatic efforts with Iran and Afghanistan to ensure the justice of wanted terrorists.