It's the Human Dignity, Stupid!

The situation in Balochistan is now completely out of control, and there is no mystery as to why.

For over 50 years, the heavy-handed, military- and intelligence-led approach to ‘solving’ Balochistan’s political and social issues has backfired, turning the province into a battle zone and its people into ‘collateral damage.’ While blame can be assigned to many, few serious solutions have emerged from decision-makers in Islamabad.

Here’s what must be done—and done immediately—if there is any genuine intention to restore stability in the province.

Start with a sincere apology: There is no way around it. The civil and military leadership in Pakistan must issue a sincere apology for the last 70 years of wrongdoings in the province. An apology to the Baloch people has to be the starting point for change; without it, there can be no forward path.

Restore human dignity: The apology must be followed by actions that restore the dignity of the Baloch people, who have suffered far too long under incomprehensible repression and fear. People can survive without basic necessities, but when their dignity is stripped away, there is little left to live for. Any solution in Balochistan must be centered on restoring human dignity, which will require demilitarised approach to the province and an end to forced abductions and repression in order to restore balance.

Political dialogue: A sincere apology also requires a general amnesty and open dialogue with all Baloch stakeholders and political leaders to rebuild public trust and faith in the future. Nations are built on consensus, not forced inclusion at gunpoint. Genuine elections that allow the Baloch to elect leaders who can truly represent them will address many of the issues the province currently faces.

Good-faith development: Finally, Balochistan must be developed for the benefit of its people, not for the rest of Pakistan, and certainly not for external allies with strategic interests. It doesn't take much to understand that the short-term security and political goals of Islamabad and its allies cannot trump the long-term development goals of Balochistan and its people. The province faces critical challenges such as water shortages, hunger, untrained youth, and a lack of opportunities. Balochistan deserves an unfair share of development to make up for 70 years of our failed adventures.

None of these recommendations are outrageous or unachievable, and they may even seem like common sense. However, executing them will require a strong civilian government, one willing to bypass the entrenched ‘militarised’ approach to Balochistan and carve a new path forward for the province and its people.