The state’s failure

The situation in Balochistan has taken a grim turn, exposing the state’s consistent failure to respond with empathy and foresight. Highways remain blocked, Quetta is nearly locked down, and protesters led by Akhtar Mengal are met not with dialogue but with brute force. It is painfully clear that the political bridge between the Baloch people and the state is crumbling. The crackdown on Baloch Yakjehti Committee leaders, followed by a surge in nationalist resistance and participation of mainstream parties in the long march, shows that repression is feeding militancy. In sidelining moderate nationalist voices, the state is pushing a disenfranchised generation to the edge of armed resistance. What’s more, the inclusion of educated Baloch women in the movement has added depth and urgency, as their personal stories of state excess reflect a widespread narrative of injustice.

The real power in the province no longer resides with elected representatives but with the security apparatus, which sees every issue through the barrel of a gun. From the hijacking of trains to suicide bombings led by women, the rise in militant activity across 20 districts underlines the deepening crisis. Instead of engaging with emerging leaders and correcting past wrongs, Islamabad continues its course of indifference, forming vague committees like the one for ‘hardening the state’. This euphemism for increased control only sharpens alienation. The legacy of denied rights, economic neglect, and military solutions has left Balochistan on the brink. Without genuine political engagement, the state risks alienating the last remnants of mainstream Baloch representation.

Overview:

This article, authored by Zahid Hussain, confronts the escalating unrest in Balochistan, driven by state negligence, rising militancy, and suppression of political voices. It captures the power vacuum, the historical context of resistance, and the dangerous implications of silencing moderate leaders.

NOTES:

This article is essential for understanding the long-standing Baloch insurgency and the civil-military imbalance in Pakistan. It highlights how centralized governance, military-led policies, and political apathy have intensified separatist tendencies in Balochistan. Students can link this with ethnic politics, counterinsurgency strategy, and the state’s failure in peripheral regions. The mention of Akhtar Mengal, Baloch Yakjehti Committee, and women-led resistance presents relevant case studies on state-citizen disconnect, useful for Pakistan Affairs and Current Affairs papers.

Relevant CSS syllabus topics or subjects:

• Pakistan Affairs: Ethnic issues and national integration.
• Current Affairs: Civil-military relations and insurgencies in Pakistan.
• Governance and Public Policy: Federalism, decentralization, and state response mechanisms.
• Political Science: Role of non-state actors, political alienation, and democratic backsliding.
• International Relations: Internal security’s impact on foreign image.

Notes for Beginners:

Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province by area but remains the most underdeveloped. The unrest stems from decades of political neglect, economic exploitation, and military crackdowns. For example, the 2003 plan to build military cantonments ignited fears of occupation. Akhtar Mengal, once a moderate nationalist, has now lost faith in parliamentary politics. Around 20 districts face unrest, and even cabinet ministers avoid their home regions due to security concerns. The rise of female militants, like suicide bombers, shows how deep resentment runs among families affected by enforced disappearances. Understanding this context helps grasp why calls for political reform and fair resource distribution are central to peace.

Facts and Figures:

• 20 districts reportedly affected by militant activity.
• Four major past insurgencies before the current one.
• Multiple mainstream parties have joined the long march.
• Women now play both militant and activist roles

To sum up, This article is a piercing reminder of how indifference and coercion have corroded the state’s legitimacy in Balochistan. Ignoring the cries for justice and replacing them with militarised control only sharpens the divide. For any meaningful peace, the state must abandon its colonial mindset and reengage with political wisdom and sincerity before all bridges are burned beyond repair.

Difficult words and meanings:

Paralysed – rendered inactive or powerless, immobilized (syn), active (ant)

Siege – a situation where access is blocked, especially to a city

Coercive – involving force or threats, forceful (syn), voluntary (ant)

Volatile – likely to change rapidly and unpredictably, unstable (syn), stable (ant)

Impunity – exemption from punishment

Insurgency – an active revolt or uprising

Alienation – the state of being isolated or estranged, estrangement (syn), inclusion (ant)

Gimmickry – use of tricks to attract attention

Fractured – broken or divided

Apathy – lack of interest or concern, indifference (syn), concern (ant)