Daily Times

Baluchistan remained in the news headlines for multiple reasons related to internal security during the past weeks. There is an emerging silver lining and multiple extraordinary challenges amid complex socio-political dynamics in the province.

Before discussing the surrender of militant commander Sarfaraz Bungalzai and much talked about the hype on the march of Baluch protestors, let’s recall the dossier presented in UNO by Pakistan three years back about Indian support to terrorists in Baluchistan through Afghanistan-based proxies.

It should be understood clearly that terrorist groups, either religious extremists or so-called ethno-nationalist anarchists, are attacking Pakistan from safe havens in Afghanistan. It is not only TTP and its splinter groups who have been using Afghan soil with full impunity against Pakistan rather various Baluch separatist terrorist outfits including BLA and BLF are also part of the devilish bunch. The issue of cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan is getting thorny with every passing day and affecting the bilateral equation between both neighbours who suffered a lot due to the terrorists of various brands.

Apparently, the least pushed regimes and comparatively unstable political environment in Kabul have played a key role in spoiling the peace matrix in the region. Undoubtedly, Pakistan is a major sufferer of these undesirable environments. This point should always be kept in focus whenever Pakistan raises the issue of cross-border terrorism with Afghanistan; it is about all brands of terrorist outfits with no exception of so-called ethno-nationalist groups.

Allied activism on social media seems an effort to divert attention from the exposure of Indian-sponsored anarchists.

This should also be remembered that BLA and BLF are UN-designated terrorist outfits who had claimed multiple attacks against civilians and security officials in Pakistan. The foreign office has been repeating serious concerns about Indian support to anti-Pakistan terrorist groups at multiple forums including UNO, OIC and SCO through policy statements, periodic briefings, dossiers and formal speeches.

A glance at past official statements will be enough to build a clear perspective on surging terrorism in Pakistan. Clarity on certain questions will simplify the intricacy attached to the issue of terrorism, separatism and ethno-nationalist anarchism. One: Who is involved in terrorism? Two: Where are the safe havens or hideouts of the terrorists? Three: Who is sponsoring, financing, training and patronizing the terrorists? Four: What are the objectives? Why is the Pakistan in cross-hairs of terrorist outfits?

Brief answers to these important questions can be easily extracted from the recent press talk of Sarfraz Bungalzai held in Quetta. Likewise, we should not forget the confessional disclosures of former Baloch National Army (BNA) commander Gulzar Imam alias Shambay at the time of surrender to the state a few months back. Sarfaraz Bungalzai alias Mureed Baluch took over BNA after the surrender of Gulzar Imam alias Shambay.

Disclosures of both surrendered militant commanders have substantiated the confessions of Indian spy Khal Bhoshan Jhadev arrested inside Baluchistan over charges of running terrorist networks back in 2016. After connecting these three statements, one gets a clear picture of surging terrorism in Baluchistan and KP areas adjacent to Western borders. India is sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan through BLA, BNA, BLF, TTP, TJP and multiple splinter groups. Safe havens in Afghanistan are used as training camps. Poorly governed folds on either side of the border, unemployed youth of backward areas, inflammable ethnic themes and misinterpreted religious concepts provide exploitable fault lines to hostile agencies.

Perpetuating instability caused by prolonged foreign interventions in Afghanistan has been a major source of creating fertile grounds for terrorist outfits and their sponsor states. India is vigorously sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan to divert attention from Hindutva-driven genocidal violence in IIOJK. Patronization of a separatist insurgency in Baluchistan serves two major strategic purposes for India.

First: disorder in Baluchistan radiates the optics of a parallel separatist insurgency to the indigenous freedom movement in IIOJK.

Second: terrorist attacks in Baluchistan are detrimental to the successful completion of CPEC which serves the counter-China strategy of India and its Western allies. This venomous approach is neither good for Pakistan nor beneficial for regional players.

So-called Baluch activists stationed abroad are playing in the hands of Indian sponsors with no soft corner for the common masses suffering in backward areas of the province. Confessions of two former BNA commanders have unveiled the secretive links of self-style Baluch rights activists with Indian handlers.

Two consecutive surrenders of militant commanders have deeply dented the Indian terrorist networks in Baluchistan for which Pakistani security institutions especially the premier agency ISI deserve appreciation. Despite these successes, the challenge is very much alive and the war against the Indian sponsored terrorist outfits is not yet over. Social media activism and protest march of Baloch Yakjehti Council (BYC) on the issue of missing persons seem largely focused on alleging the state. surprisingly, none of the activists has condemned or questioned the terrorist outfits responsible for the bloodbath in Baluchistan.

One of the protest march leaders, Lady Doctor Mahrang Baluch, avoided the condemnation of terrorists during an interview with a TV anchor. How a well-wisher of Baluchs can resist clear condemnation of the terrorists and raise slogans for the missing persons in the same breath? March and allied activism on social media seems an effort to divert attention from the exposure of Indian-sponsored anarchists amid press talk of Sarfraz Bungalzai.

During my tenure in QAU, I found my Baluch class fellows more sincerely devoted towards personal educational growth and uplifting of their backward province. They used to complain about the hollow activism of self-styled foreign-based militants who spoiled the developmental prospects of Baluchistan. It is about time for Baluch youth to recognize the real face of foreign-sponsored terrorists unveiled by the former BNA commanders.

The writer is a graduate of QAU, PhD scholar & freelance writer. He can be reached at fa7263125@gmail.com