Balochistan is Pakistan's poorest, most backward and most neglected province and there have been several insurgencies spearheaded by the Baloch nationalist groups over the past six decades that have been crushed by the military.
The danger is that amidst all of Pakistan's other problems - economic difficulties, political unrest and the Taliban insurgency in the north - the Baloch will come to feel increasingly neglected and forgotten.
Balochistan needs a political solution and quickly, but so far the government has failed to implement sufficient remedial measures to alleviate poverty, arrest the economic downturn, alleviate the massive unemployment and illiteracy in the province or even talk to the dissidents.
The situation is particularly sensitive now that the US wants to launch a military operation in the province, which it claims is a safe haven for Taliban and Al Qaida operatives.
The brutal killings of three Baloch nationalist leaders - Gulam Mohammad Baloch, Lala Munir Baloch and Sher Mohammad Baloch - earlier this month have once again ignited the insurgency in the mineral, oil and gas-rich province.
At least 16 people were killed in the ensuing violence, while dozens of others were injured and many government buildings were attacked by rioters.
The victims included not only policemen, but also several persons who had come to Balochistan from other parts of the country to seek work.
The Baloch Libration Army (BLA), the rebel group comprising Baloch nationalists, claimed the killings had avenged the murder of their leaders. They alleged that the intelligence agencies were behind the assassinations, while the government said they had been carried out by forces conspiring to destabilise the country.
The three nationalists who were killed were members of the committee that was recently formed by the government of Pakistan to investigate hundreds of missing persons cases in the province, notably that of abducted United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees official John Solecki, who was freed on April 4.
Though President Asif Ali Zardari last month announced a Dh2.2 billion development package for Balochistan, this was not enough to mollify the nationalists, who rejected the move - sending a clear message that they do not trust the government.
The government should do everything it can to speed up the reconciliation process in the interests of the country. The situation could get out of control if the nationalists join forces with the Taliban and Al Qaida.
The government cannot afford to fight on two fronts, as it is already struggling to deal with the terrorist elements that are holed up in the tribal areas along the border. If the insurgency in Balochistan is not addressed, it will give the US the excuse it needs to launch a military operation and drone attacks in the province.
The government needs to act to resolve all outstanding issues with the Baloch people to strengthen the federation and bring peace. Chiefs and clan leaders of the powerful Marri, Bugti and Mengal tribes have been in the forefront of the insurgency.
Previously, Baloch nationalists demanded greater provincial autonomy within the federation of Pakistan, but today the situation has worsened and many Baloch nationalists are demanding a separate country for themselves - a demand that is threatening the federation.
The long-dormant crisis erupted in Balochistan in 1973 into an insurgency that lasted four years and became increasingly bitter. The insurgency was eventually put down by the Pakistan army.
One of the main Baloch grievances was the influx of Punjabi settlers, miners, and traders into their resource-rich but sparsely populated lands. Balochistan is rich in minerals and has 40 per cent of Pakistan's gas reserves.
In 2004, the Baloch rebels again took up arms against the federal government, with the BLA, Balochistan Liberation Front, and People's Liberation Army conducting operations.
The Gwadar Port project, which employed close to 500 Chinese nationals at that time, was one of the rebels' targets. Three Chinese engineers were killed by the BLA. Gwadar airport was attacked by rockets at midnight in May 2004.
Violence reached a crescendo in March of 2005, when the Pakistani security forces killed Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, a 79-year-old tribal leader, who had fought against the government for decades, despite being a member of several governments.
Bugti's killing sparked intensive fighting between the tribal militia and government soldiers, resulting in the deaths of more than 70 people.
Since then, the seething unrest in the province has led to feelings of increased hatred against the government and the security forces, who are blamed for the killing of ethnic leaders.
The insurgency was put on hold when Zardari and Baloch groups declared a ceasefire last year. But fighting broke out once again after the government failed to follow up the truce with meaningful talks. As a result of the distractions of the political and economic crisis, the wide-ranging grievances of the alienated Baloch people have not been addressed.
http://www.gulfnews.com/opinion/columns/world/10305333.html
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