The government’s decision to
reach out to dissident Baloch nationalist leaders and hold talks with them on the issue of Balochistan is a major step in the right direction. In this regard, the Khan of Kalat was contacted by a Baloch Minister in London in August to discuss the current issues of Balochistan. Earlier, the chief minister of Balochistan confirmed that his government would request the members of the “Grand Baloch Jirga” to make a formal appeal for the Khan of Kalat’s return. Similarly, Brahamdagh Bugti, in an interview with BBC Urdu also showed his willingness to hold talks with the government and withdraw his demands of separation.
The government and the Baloch nationalists have both recognised the importance of initiating the dialogue process, which is the only way to resolve the conflict in a peaceful manner. Pakistan, despite being a federal state, has not fully evolved the spirit of federalism. Demands for greater provincial autonomy and distribution of resources have remained contentious issues between the federal government and the federating units. Scholars dealing with conflict studies explore the correlation between intra-state conflicts and socioeconomic deprivation, lack of opportunities and the uneven distribution of power.
Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan but it is also the least populated and least developed province. Tribal structures dominate the political process and ethnic diversity further adds to the political fragmentation. The socioeconomic indicators show a gloomy picture of the state of affairs in Balochistan. Balochistan’s development has remained a neglected subject even during colonial rule. Given its unique geostrategic significance, the defence-oriented policies of the British administration focused on the construction of strategically important rail and road networks to link Balochistan with Iran and Afghanistan but ignored other infrastructure, important for the socioeconomic development of the region.
After the creation of Pakistan, Balochistan was given special attention in the second five year development plan (1960-65) and the third five year development plan (1965-70), while no significant development took place during successive years. With the passage of time, Baloch grievances have been increasing because of the fact that the Baloch people have been kept from participating in mainstream politics, the unequal distribution of resources and their demand for greater autonomy not being met.
To address the grievances of the people of Balochistan, many suggestions had been put forward from time to time. Two parliamentary committees were constituted in 2004 to identify Baloch concerns regarding constitutional issues and reservations on the initiation of megaprojects in the province. In 2009, the Pakistan People’s Party government took an initiative and introduced the Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan Package to address these political problems. In the subsequent years, the seventh NFC Award and 18th Constitutional Amendment were successively passed to transfer more resources to the province and to give it greater autonomy. These initiatives could not resolve the issues due to a lack of proper implementation.
The current federal and provincial governments have been taking steps to address the concerns of the Baloch people and to alleviate their grievances. The prime minister inaugurated a number of development projects such as the Mungi Dam, the establishment of an Agriculture University in Quetta, and the construction of the Samungli Road Flyover. The people of Balochistan have long been demanding the construction of Mungi dam, as it has potential to meet local water and energy needs. The Samungli Flyover would connect important parts of the region, thus creating new job opportunities for the people. Moreover, the establishment of the Agriculture University at Quetta would promote a culture of research in the agricultural field and help convert barren lands to cultivable lands. Apart from economic development, the government has announced a package for rebels who are willing to lay down their arms and accept the writ of the state; they will be given a sizable amount to enable them to start their own businesses.
Engaging in dialogue with dissidents and launching development projects will complement each other and bring the Baloch people back into the mainstream. In the past, we have seen that the initiation of mega developmental projects, such as the construction of Gwadar Port, proved counterproductive, as they further enhanced the fears of the local population regarding the change in the demographical mix of the province. Before initiating such projects, the federal government should win the confidence of people and the capacity-building of the local population should be a precondition.
The writer works at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) and can be reached at [email protected]