Abdullah Mirwani
Whenever terrorism in Balochistan is discussed, the debate is often limited to the conflict between the state and militant groups. However, there is another painful and important dimension that deserves attention: Baloch civilians themselves are suffering from the actions of Baloch militant groups that claim to fight in the name of Baloch rights and interests. In several areas, ordinary Baloch citizens – including traders, labourers, students, government employees, and local community leaders face fear, threats, and pressure from such elements.
This raises an important question: if a group claims to represent the rights of the Baloch people, why are the same Baloch people living in fear because of its actions? If the objective is the welfare and prosperity of Baloch society, how can threatening the lives, businesses, education, and livelihoods of ordinary Baloch citizens serve that purpose?
The greatest victims of terrorism are always ordinary people. A shopkeeper trying to support his family, a labourer working to secure his children’s future, a student seeking an education, and a teacher educating the next generation are not parties to a political conflict. Yet they are often the ones who pay the price for violence.
In some parts of Balochistan, threats, kidnappings, targeted killings, extortion, disruption of development activities, and pressure on civilians by armed groups have created serious difficulties for local communities. Those most affected are often people who have neither political power nor the ability to protect themselves against armed groups.
It is important to make a clear distinction here: demanding political, economic, or constitutional rights is one matter; using violence against innocent civilians is entirely another. The legitimate grievances of the Baloch people should be discussed, deprivation should be addressed, and political concerns should be taken seriously. But using these grievances as a justification to intimidate or harm one’s own people can never be considered service to the Baloch community.
The situation becomes particularly tragic when a Baloch young person begins to feel that the greatest threat to his safety does not come from outside, but from armed individuals who claim to act in his name. Such fear does not affect only one individual; it creates distrust throughout society.
The ordinary Baloch citizen has the right to leave home without fear, conduct business, pursue education, and dream about a better future. If any group claims to struggle in the name of the Baloch people, it must first respect the lives, dignity, and security of those very people.
The Baloch people do not need violence carried out in their name while they themselves become its victims. Balochistan’s future cannot be built under the shadow of the gun; it must be built through peace, education, employment, the rule of law, and political dialogue.
—The author is an MPhil scholar in Political Science.
