Saman Hamid
Balochistan is the largest and unfortunately the most neglected provinces of Pakistan. It is not only neglected by the Government but her own people as well. A man claiming to be an ISIS assailant blew himself up in the Hazarganji Fruits and Vegetables markets, claiming 20 lives mostly Hazaras. The ensuing sit-in lasted for four days and upon a visit from the Chief Minister Jam Kamal Alyani and State Minister for Interior, Sheharyar Afridi, assuring catching the criminals.
Before the dust even settled another incident has taken place at the Makran coastal highway, 14 people gunned downed by terrorists dressed up in paramilitary Frontier Corps’ uniforms. The bus was traveling to Karachi from Omara. These barbaric acts are not the first unfortunately in Balochistan’s history. Starting from the early 2000s the situation in Balochistan has followed a downward spiral, it is hard to believe that once the land of hospitality has “ethnic targeting” going on. I say “Ethnic Targeting” because it is not only the Shite under threat, a vast majority of Urdu speaking and Punjabi settlers are long gone due to threats and attacks from the province. Prime Minister Imran khan inaugurated the Gawadar Expo in April 8 of this year, just 6 days before the brutal incident. While all this was going on the recent skirmish with India can in no way be dismissed. Not to mention the activity in Afghanistan.
Is it only a coincidence that delegates from 26 countries attended the Gawadar Expo. Quetta Zhob highway, Gwadar airport were at the center of the PM’s visit. Balochistan is a land endowed with vast amounts of natural treasures, our natural gas deposits in Sui are a running testament to that if nothing else.
The infamous and controversial RekoDiq mines in Chaghi, carrying according to Tethyan Copper Company (TCC) feasibility; 14 Million ounces of gold and 23 Billion pounds of copper were minable. The matter is currently in the arbitral tribunal of the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) where TCCA is claiming $11.34Billion in damages, initially promising $5Billion in investment.
The western route of CPEC is an artery for the entire project. And Gawadar port is no less than the crown jewel. The impression that the naysayers primarily the Indians are trying to garner is that the people of Balochistan take the foreign investment as a threat to their well-being, any developmental efforts that maybe a source to uplift their status and that of the province. Noone in their right mind would say no to prosperity and the warmongers from the East and West should realize that such propaganda has no rational basis.
Balochistan is a difficult but not an impossible predicament created largely by india. All we need to do is focus on engaging the people. It is important for officials to visit and show support to people who indulge in sit-ins because their loved ones are mercilessly killed.
The whole effort of our security forces all over Pakistan boils down to how the Pakistanis are treating the whole situation, gone are the days when the Government alone was responsible for everything, we must be vigilant.
It is easier now as the whole world has shrunk to the pace of the internet. It is high time we do not take even the neighbors for granted. We must also place trust on our forces and their efforts and not give in to the propaganda hurled at us from all borders.
Balochistan cannot take a back seat anymore. The current events are a huge reminder for all of us of just that. The once most peaceful and friendly land is vulnerable but then again nothing is impossible and peace in Balochistan certainly is not.
