During his visit to Quetta, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that the doors are always open for those innocents who have become victims of enemies’ conspiracies. The statement refers to the present restive situation in Balochistan where a low level insurgency is still going on, allegedly, due to the state’s policy of not addressing the concerns of the Baloch people. The COAS’ offer has given some hope that the Baloch people are still partners in development and without their participation, Pakistan cannot progress. The history of Balochistan since Pakistan’s independence is marked with repression and resistance. Successive regimes have tried to quell such resistance in Balochistan with military force again and again, and this has only succeeded in hardening the alienation of the Baloch people. A low-intensity insurgency that began in 2002 as a response to the frustration of Baloch aspirations and the failure to address their long standing grievances spread and intensified immeasurably after the killing of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti. A new Baloch generation spearheaded the insurgency because they had become so disheartened with the policies of the state that they took up arms to get their demands accepted. The Baloch people have been facing victimisation and abuse of their basic rights for decades. The government should engage them in talks to move towards bringing an end to the years’ long insurgency in Balochistan and make the Baloch people partners in its development. After all, Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan in terms of area and an important strategic location of the country. In the wake of ongoing work for the establishment of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and the development of Gwadar Port, Balochistan has already acquired great importance. The government needs to look into Baloch grievances and redress them at the earliest. Like all other citizens and federating units, the Baloch people must be given their rights according to the constitution. The government should engage all stakeholders, exiled leaders and insurgents in talks and give them fair treatment. The issue of Balochistan is different from terrorism. In this province, the people have been facing marginalisation for long years. Despite having rich mineral resources, the province is facing neglect and not being paid appropriate royalties by the federal government. Violations of human rights and other abuses are rampant in Balochistan. The government should accept the legitimate demands of the Baloch people. The royalties from minerals, gas and other natural resources should be spent on the uplift of Balochistan and its poor people. Military operations are not the solution to every problem, especially long standing political ones. The present operation should be called off and a political solution should be sought for the Balochistan issue. It may take time to clear the mess inherited from the past but the first steps for it need to be taken now. *