According to many prominent international economists, safety, security and systematic persuasion are the three main attributes of implementing long-term policies of socio-economic development and seeking more and more inflows of foreign investment. Unfortunately, we are lagging far away from these recipes of progress, prosperity and peaceful living in the country and frequent violent acts and terrorist attacks are pushing us now towards a close ally.
It seems that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has become hostage of violence and terrorism in the country. The recent surge in terrorist incidents in the KP, Balochistan and Southern Punjab all indicate formation of new fighting clubs, eroding prospects of socio-economic prosperity and especially the Chinese investment.
The expanding canvas of terrorism also reflects deteriorating law & order situation, poor capacity building and, to some extent, poor management, flashing out good works of the CPEC and, of course, the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC). Thus the Chinese people and the projects of CPEC are in the line of fire and all regional sponsors and global masters have already started a new end game, sabotaging paths of socio-economic prosperity in KP and Balochistan and suffocating inspirations of stability, sustainability, peace and harmony in the country. The elite are sleeping and enemies are slaughtering the common people conveying the message of fear, uncertainty and chaos compelling the potential investors and businessmen to stay away from this country.
Unfortunately local authorities, law enforcement agencies and notably provincial governments have become paralyzed portraying the rule of the jungle in which there is no respect for human life and credulous killing is going on without any check. Many security experts viewed the most recent massacre in different parts of Balochistan as a horrendous act against humanity and sovereignty and a clear cut message to visiting General Li Qiaoming, Commander of the People’s Liberation Army Ground Forces. The message is loud and clear to China and its people/policy makers to stay away from Pakistan and no need of CPEC anymore.
Despite meetings with General Syed Asim Munir, at the General Headquarters and prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and had in-depth discussions on matters of mutual interest, regional security, military training and measures to further augment bilateral defence cooperation the timing, scale and canvas of the circus of ongoing bloodshed would produce diminishing returns in the days to come.
Unfortunately, most recently Balochistan faced a deadly surge in violence with multiple attacks across the province resulting in over 50 deaths, including 23 common passengers in Musakhail indicating frightful fractions in the different factions of the society and visible rift among the different ethnic groups in the province. On its part, security forces neutralised 21 terrorists and injured several others.
The Chief Minister of Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti said that 38 innocent lives were claimed by terrorists, while the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed in a press release that 14 security personnel, including four law enforcement officials, were martyred during clearance operations that resulted in the killing of the 21 terrorists.
It seems that the terrorists had coordinated a plan and attacked levies and police stations in Mastung, Kalat, Pasni, and Suntsar, resulting in numerous casualties. These forces of evil ransacked a police station in Suntsar, Gwadar, seizing official weapons. Armed men also took personnel hostage at Levies Thana Khadkocha and engaged in fire-fights with law enforcement in Kalat. Moreover, deadly explosions and grenade attacks were reported in Sibi, Panjgur, Mastung, Turbat, Bela, and Quetta, with terrorists blowing up a railway track near Mastung.
Additionally, eleven people, including four Levies personnel, were killed in Kalat. As the day progressed, it emerged that six bodies were discovered in Bolan.
Ironically, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that the government had a “good idea” of who orchestrated these attacks and who was responsible. The terrorists blocked the Quetta-Karachi highway. Six bodies were found in the Bolan district, with four recovered from under a damaged bridge.
In a separate incident, at least 23 people were killed in the Musakhail district when armed men forcibly removed passengers from trucks and buses and shot them after verifying their identity. The inter-provincial highway in the Rarasham area of the district was also blocked and passengers were massacred.
The perpetrators stopped buses, vans, and trucks, one after the other on a highway connecting Punjab with Balochistan. Those killed were reportedly from Punjab.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the most active militant group in the province, claimed responsibility for the attack, marking it as one of the worst shootings in the region in recent years.
According to a statement issued by ISPR on Monday, 21 terrorists were killed as security forces and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) responded to the attacks, while 14 soldiers laid their lives in the line of duty.
Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies immediately responded and successfully thwarted the evil design of terrorists and sent twenty-one terrorists to hell in ensuing clearance operations, ensuring security and protection of local populace.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attacks and expressed his deep grief on the martyrdom of policemen and Levies personnel. He also ordered that a probe be launched into the attacks to identify and punish the perpetrators.
In summary, somehow ongoing sanitisation operations against the instigators, perpetrators, facilitators, and abettors of these heinous and cowardly acts, targeting innocent civilians have restored the civilian government writ but collateral damage is huge and soft image has now been further marginalized resulting further delays in the ongoing mega projects of the CPEC in the province.
One of the first and major causalities of this naked terrorism of the BLA is Gwadar Airport which has been further delayed amid security concerns. There is an urgent need to form an action plan to hold talks with the political leadership of Balochistan and subsequently reaching out to Naraaz (discontent) Baloch.
Funds for operation Azm-e-Istehkam has been allocated, therefore, a full-fledged counter insurgent operation is the need of hour to eliminate BLA, MB, TTP and ISIS-K from the country. The military establishment and government should not bow before the whims & wishes of the greedy opposition searching a new deal on this.
Terrorism has become the biggest hurdle in immense social development, economic stability and sustainability which is constantly corroding our collective survival and even essential attributes, mainly safety, security and functionality of the system is also at stake. The policy makers of China should also realize that ongoing terrorism in the country has certain regional connections and international patrons because of its just stance against the imperialist forces in Asia Pacific, South China Sea, Taiwan and ongoing trade war has also spillover repercussions.
Therefore a joint and comprehensive hybrid security mechanism is the need of the hour. Hopefully the current visit of General Li Qiaoming, Commander of the People’s Liberation Army Ground Forces would make better understanding among different stakeholders to act swiftly against terrorists.
