Balochistan unarms

Are we moving towards something that resembles peace in Balochistan, the restive province where an insurgency has continued since 2006, pitching Baloch nationalist groups against the security establishment and all symbols of state? Violence directed against non-Baloch settlers in the province has notably increased over the past two years. The amnesty announced this past Friday by provincial Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch for militant commanders who lay down their arms marks a possible route to creating the peace that has eluded the province for too many years. As such it marks a distinctly positive step forward and demonstrates a desire to change things. The announcement, under which senior militant commanders who lay down arms will be given a cash reward of Rs1.5 million and middle ranking ones Rs1 million, came after an apex committee meeting attended by top political and military leaders. The committee had been set up after a spate of ethnic killings and other acts of violence. According to reports contacts at various levels with militants have also continued, a process Dr Malik has been attempting since he assumed office after the 2013 elections. In the past three weeks, over 100 militants have laid down arms including several senior commanders. They belong to some of the key outfits who have played a part in this shadowy war.
The amnesty, it is hoped, will encourage others to lay down their guns and grenades and instead attempt to settle differences through dialogue. Political negotiation is after all the only war forward in Balochistan. Perhaps the cash incentive will help. We will need to wait and see. But even while welcoming the recent developments, it is important – in fact crucial – to keep certain things in mind. The grievances and frustrations of the Baloch people run deep. They have been passed down from one generation to the next and comprise a deep perception of injustice inflicted on them. Control over the province’s resources, the issue of missing people and military operations carried out over decades are all factors in this. Beyond the amnesty it is these issues too that have to be tackled. This must happen at the political level. Trust for the security establishment runs low in the province. It will then need a multi-pronged strategy to find solutions and build trust. The process will need to take place step by step, with all the complex dimensions taken into account. It will also take time to build trust. But at least some effort to do so has been initiated and this is critical given the situation the province has faced for so many years. Things will not be fixed instantaneously. More steps will be required.