THE recent spate of killings in Noshki, Balochistan, marks another grim chapter in the province’s long struggle against militancy and subversion.
A calculated escalation of violence targeting both civilians and security personnel has underscored the persistent threat posed by separatist elements determined to disrupt peace and national unity.
These acts are not merely local incidents of unrest; they are part of a broader strategy to erode the foundations of inter-provincial harmony and challenge the writ of the state.
Reports emerging from Noshki reveal a disturbing pattern.
Non-local workers, particularly from Punjab, have been targeted in execution-style killings.
In one of the most recent incidents, the bullet-riddled bodies of several labourers were recovered from a remote area, sending shockwaves through the community and sparking renewed concerns about ethnic profiling by militant outfits.
These targeted killings are not random; they are deliberately designed to incite fear, provoke migration and fracture the social cohesion between Pakistan’s provinces.
Adding to the gravity of the situation are coordinated attacks on security convoys and installations.
In one notable incident, a suicide bomber targeted a paramilitary vehicle in the outskirts of Noshki, resulting in multiple casualties.
The aim is clear: to demoralize the defence forces and weaken public confidence in the state’s ability to maintain order in Balochistan.
However, the response from Pakistan’s security apparatus has been both swift and measured.
Intelligence-based operations have been intensified in affected regions, leading to the elimination of several high-value targets affiliated with banned outfits.
The resolve of the defence forces, police and civil administration in confronting these threats despite difficult terrain and hostile propaganda is commendable.
It is also worth noting that Balochistan’s troubles do not exist in a vacuum.
The province has long been the focus of externally-sponsored campaigns seeking to destabilize Pakistan through covert support to insurgent groups.
The recurring nature of attacks on non-local workers, key infrastructure and security forces suggests a deliberate strategy to sabotage national projects and derail development initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
These attacks are not only acts of terror; they are assaults on the country’s future.
Yet amid adversity, there are signs of resilience.
The state’s multi-pronged approach combining security operations with development efforts and political outreach remains the most effective strategy for lasting peace.
The federal and provincial governments must continue to invest in education, healthcare and employment opportunities in restive districts like Noshki, while ensuring that justice is swift for those involved in such heinous crimes.
The situation in Noshki serves as a stark reminder that peace in Balochistan is inseparable from Pakistan’s overall stability.
The challenge now is not only to neutralize the immediate threats but to reinforce the message that violence will not deter the nation’s path forward.
A unified, secure and inclusive Balochistan is essential to Pakistan’s long-term strength and every life lost to senseless violence is a call to reinforce that commitment.
—The writer is contributing columnist.
