Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest and most resource-rich province, has been in a state of constant turmoil for decades. The blazing fire of insurgency in the province has engulfed several developmental initiatives, innocent civilians, and security personnel. A sharp surge in attacks has been recorded over the past five years, with 2025 being the deadliest year. According to the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies, a total of 254 attacks were launched by insurgents in 2025, a 26 percent increase from the previous year, resulting in more than 400 deaths. The scale and intensity of recent attacks substantiate the involvement of foreign hostile elements as well as support from within segments of the local Baloch population. Pakistan has repeatedly provided evidence of New Delhi’s alleged involvement in the Baloch insurgency. The involvement of anti-Pakistan states has enhanced the operational capabilities of insurgents by providing training and sophisticated weaponry.
Over the years, factors such as poverty, lack of education and healthcare facilities, backwardness, unemployment, and the issue of missing persons have ignited antagonistic views toward the state among segments of the Baloch population. While it is not unusual for regions to encounter such problems, the lack of political will and sustained efforts by successive Pakistani governments to address Baloch grievances has further exacerbated the situation, making the province a breeding ground for militant groups. The narrative propagated by insurgents, which portrays Pakistani forces as “occupation forces,” frames the insurgency as a “war of liberation” and lures educated youth into its fold. Young people are misled into believing that violence is the only solution to their problems. As a result, in their naivety, some educated Baloch youth resort to violence against fellow citizens and obstruct genuine development initiatives that could help realise the dream of a better Balochistan.
The dangerous wave of insurgency cannot be suppressed merely through kinetic measures, as this will only widen the rift between the state and the people of Balochistan, resulting in more bloodshed, chaos, and resentment.
What is even more worrisome is the presence of Baloch women in militant ranks. The recruitment of educated women signals the deep penetration of militant networks into the Baloch community. The spread of digital media has further provided militants with a broader operational space to disseminate propaganda and recruit new members.
The insurgency in Balochistan is by no means a legitimate resistance; rather, it can be viewed as a proxy conflict aimed at weakening the state of Pakistan from within. Thomas Aquinas, an influential medieval thinker, in his just war theory outlined criteria for legitimate armed resistance. First, it must be authorised by a legitimate authority; insurgent groups operating in Balochistan lack such legitimacy. Second, it must have a just cause, and third, the intention behind the resistance should be to promote good and avoid harm. While some Baloch grievances are genuine, attacks and killings carried out by insurgents cannot justify violence, as they obstruct development projects, kill innocent people, and create an atmosphere of fear and instability in the province. The dangerous wave of insurgency cannot be suppressed merely through kinetic measures, as this will only widen the rift between the state and the people of Balochistan, resulting in more bloodshed, chaos, and resentment. Pakistan must adopt a multi-pronged strategy to uproot the insurgency. Disinformation spreads faster than truth; therefore, it is important to counter militant propaganda through facts and evidence. Additionally, instead of relying solely on government officials, it may be more effective to empower community leaders, religious figures, and local influencers to present accurate and credible alternative narratives. It is also important to educate the youth that while dissent is the constitutional right of every individual, taking up arms and labelling the state an “occupation force” leads only to anarchy.
Furthermore, the only way to break the vicious cycle of recruitment of Baloch youth into militant organisations is to equip them with alternatives in the form of education, employment, skills, and genuinely representative governance.
The writer is a freelance columnist.