A suicide bombing, orchestrated by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), at the Quetta Railway Station, on Saturday, resulted in the death of at least 25 people and injured more than 50.
The BLA is a separatist group founded in early 2000s and has been actively involved in anti-state activities since then. It lures the naive Baloch civilians by showcasing itself as the “saviour of Balochistan”. However, the attacks on infrastructure in Balochistan, especially the recent deadly assault on Baloch civilians contradicts their narrative, giving food for thought to all those falling prey to the BLA’s narrative. If BLA truly wishes for the development of Balochistan and prosperity of the Baloch community, why are the infrastructural projects in Balochistan frequently bombed to smithereens by it? Given that in the recent attack, the BLA took lives of dozens of innocent civilians it claims to protect, this contradiction becomes even more stark.
Additionally, the group is laced with a trove of weaponry and advanced information and communication technologies which again raises questions about it being either a liberation group or a mere proxy serving the nefarious designs of foreign elements.
The dream of a prosperous and peaceful Balochistan cannot be realised unless the state and masses are on the same page.
The group’s refusal to adopt a more peaceful and constitutional way to address its grievances such as forming a political party or sitting on the negotiation table with the state representatives further undermines their credibility. Moreover, the futility of taking up arms with secessionist aims against a nuclear country implies that Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) does not intend to represent the grievances of the Baloch community rather, its only objective is to sow seeds of discord between the state and people, thereby spreading anarchy in the country and serving the broader interests of anti-Pakistan forces in the region.
The Baloch community needs to ponder over these glaring signs and realise the sheer contradiction that exists between the action and rhetoric of BLA. They need to identify and eliminate forces putting their house on fire under the garb of being their saviours. The dream of a prosperous and peaceful Balochistan cannot be realised unless the state and masses are on the same page.
Surely, the Pakistani state, being a motherly figure to its masses, has more responsibility to shoulder in this matter. The state must deal with the anarchists with a heavy-hand. However, what is even more important is that it must first bridge the mistrust created between it and its people by the separatist forces.
This can only be done by addressing the genuine issues of the Baloch people and promoting inclusive development. When the flames of mistrust are extinguished, uprooting the enemy will be as effortless as sweeping away the ashes.
The writer is a freelance columnist.