ON 20 December 2023, another sub-nationalist leader of Balochistan, Mr Sarfraz Bangulzai surrendered to the state along with his seventy active associates. Earlier Mr Gulzar Imam Shambay had also surrendered to the state after his arrest in April 2023. Mr Shambay has confessed his involvement in militancy and anti-state activities. Surrundering to state by Mr Sarfaraz Bangulzai is very welcoming news for the state and people of Pakistan, since the province has been facing militancy and trends of sub-nationalism for the last two decades. Mr Sarfraz Bangulzai became commander of the banned militant group Baloch National Army in 2009. During this period, he along with his separatist outfit has greatly harmed the province and state. Prior to joining this militant group, Mr Sarfraz Bangulzai was a government officer in the Provincial Government of Balochistan.
The inspiring part Mr Bangulzai revealed about the ongoing militancy in the province include; (a) he repent and regretted to be a militant and militant commander from 2009 to-date, (b) India is fully sponsoring the militancy and terrorism in Balochistan with all possible means including training, provision of weapons and financial assistance, (c) successive Afghan governments including the incumbent Taliban-led interim Afghan Government have been supporting the militancy and sub-nationalism in the Province, (d) his advice to the Baloch youth to refrain from becoming part of the militant outfits since it is wastage of time, energy and efforts and (e) the Baloch separatist leaders, who are living abroad and sponsoring this militancy are enjoying their lives with their families in luxuries while the poor Baloch youth is misled for undertaking this undesirable and dirty task against the state and society of Pakistan.
Indeed, Mr Bangulzai has carefully assessed the loss and gain of both; as a peaceful Pakistani national and as a militant and reached to the conclusion that militancy against the state is a bad option. While talking to the media along with Balochistan Caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai, Mr Bangulzai said, “The blood of Baloch people is being shed by Baloch hands. Innocent lives were lost for resisting extortion. Families are living in fear and the youth are paying the price. Indian money has provided [BNA] commanders with luxuries.” He further said, “I have seen with my own eyes how India funds terrorism in Balochistan. The so-called Baloch leaders abroad are living comfortable lives while our people are suffering.”
In April 2023, Mr Gulzar Imam Shambay, the founding commander of BNA, had similar revelations. Mr Shambay said that he had links with spying networks of India and Afghanistan (RAW and NDS). He also appealed the militants especially his own militant group (BNA) to give up arms and surrender to the state.He appealed to all sub-nationalists and militants of the province to “leave their armed rebellion and better join the national mainstream to work for the development and prosperity of Balochistan and the country”.
A set of measures are being suggested as a package for the federal government, the provincial government and state institutions to play the role towards bringing normalcy in the province. The first and the foremost is immediate engagement with the youth and general masses of the province at three levels: Federal Government, Provincial Government and the Military Establishment.
This engagement must be initiated simultaneously at three levels: social, political and economic. Among these, social engagement is the most important, since masses and the youth need immediate attention and motivation to remain away from any activity which goes against their own future and the state of Pakistan. More so, clarity among the masses and the youth would save those standing at the fence who can decide to go either way. The social engagement has to be real and sincere while exploring the cultural, traditional and religious aspects of the province; local customs and traditions have to be respected.
After social engagement, the economic and political engagements will act as catalysts which include: creating stakes of the masses in the major decision making process of the province while engaging the local notables and literate youths at gross-root level. Indeed, the political engagement is all about empowering the youth and local notables through ownership. This strategy would entail the dual process of engagement and increasing the stakes where elders of the society provide wisdom as per the Baloch traditions and the youth act as organizers and implementers through a process of transformation in line with the state’s requirements.
The social engagement must include a rigorous campaign of identifying the socio-economic vulnerabilities of the masses and youth in the first instance. After a clear identification of these vulnerabilities, the government must address the issues not as an economic assistance but as a futuristic investment which acts as a multiplier for them on a long-term basis. This would include the twin-process of economic well-being and social engagement. Empowering the locals; the deprived class through a gradual strategy on social issues through a collective resolve will greatly reduce the socio-economic problems of the masses. In this regard, the educational institutions need special attention. Within educational institutions, the teachers must be motivated and institutionalized to play a positive role towards driving the youth in a correct and positive perspective.
Besides, there is a need to initiate a process of confidence building measures (CBMs) between masses and the provincial administration and the masses and security forces deployed in the province. The local masses must get a feeling that security forces are there to protect them.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
Email: [email protected]
views expressed are writer’s own.
