The news from Balochistan once again reminds us how fragile peace can be, and how much effort it takes to protect it. On Saturday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi praised the security forces for a major operation in Khuzdar district.
In this action, more than 14 terrorists were killed, and many hideouts were destroyed. The state broadcaster PTV News described it as an attempt by terrorists to create fear among peaceful people of the Zehri area, which was foiled by the forces. The government has recently started using the term Fitna al-Hindustan for all terrorist organisations in Balochistan. This phrase reflects Pakistan’s belief that India is sponsoring violence to destabilise the province.
Whether one agrees with the political framing or not, the ground reality is clear: the people of Balochistan continue to pay the price of conflict, and their safety depends on strong action by the state.
Naqvi called the Khuzdar operation a “major success” and said that the nation was proud of the professionalism of its soldiers. He vowed that Indian-sponsored terrorists would be eliminated and denied any safe space.
His words echoed the voice of Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, who said that the people of the province were united with the forces in defeating the designs of Pakistan’s enemies. This operation was not an isolated one. Just a day earlier, seven terrorists were killed in Sherani district, and four were arrested in Khuzdar. These back-to-back successes show both the persistence of the terrorist threat and the constant effort of the forces to fight it.
But as we appreciate these victories, we must not forget the larger lesson: peace is not built only by guns. It also needs schools, jobs, and opportunities so that the soil of Balochistan grows hope instead of fear. Security operations can defeat enemies in the mountains, but only social justice and development can erase the reasons why violence takes root in the first place. *