Pakistan's Karma in Balochistan : FairPoint: The Haunting Karma of Pakistan in Balochistan

New Delhi, March 16 (NationPress) A nation that has long been at the center of global terrorism is now lamenting a recent train hijacking incident. This situation is a clear example of karma returning to haunt it after years of supporting, funding, and promoting terrorist activities across various regions, particularly in its neighboring country, India, and even reaching the United States.

The train hijacking by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group advocating for Balochistan's independence from Pakistan, reveals the deep-seated issues that have persisted since the creation of Pakistan. From its inception, the leadership of Pakistan has had dubious ambitions of expanding its territory. The initial victim of this expansionist ideology was Balochistan, which was an independent state in 1947 when Pakistan was formed and India gained its independence from British colonial rule.

After a brief period of autonomy lasting 227 days, Pakistan forcibly annexed the region. Many Baloch nationalists rejected this decision, viewing it as a violation of their cultural heritage and independence. In response, they revolted, but their resistance was met with overwhelming force from the Pakistani Army. The region saw uprisings in 1958, 1962, and 1973-77, yet each time, the Pakistani establishment successfully quelled the movement.

In 2005, the quest for Baloch identity reignited under the leadership of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti, who then served as Pakistan's Defence Minister and Governor of Balochistan. He endorsed the armed struggle against the Pakistani state but was assassinated the following year. Although his death temporarily dampened the movement, it did not extinguish it.

In recent years, the region has been rife with unrest. Numerous violent events have occurred, including an incident in August 2024 where over 70 individuals lost their lives due to BLA actions. At least 23 civilians were killed when gunmen obstructed highways. A suicide bombing at Quetta railway station last year resulted in 25 fatalities.

The recent train hijacking and the ambush of a bus transporting security personnel are reflections of the crisis instigated by Pakistan's policies. The Baloch people have suffered under Pakistan's expansionist agenda since 1948, the same year it sought to annex Jammu and Kashmir. Although it was successful in occupying Balochistan, its attempts to seize Jammu and Kashmir were thwarted by India's intervention.

In October 1947, Pakistani forces entered Jammu and Kashmir, then an independent territory, committing atrocities against thousands, forcibly converting many Hindus and Christians. Even Muslims who opposed them faced violence. As the situation deteriorated, the King of Jammu and Kashmir acceded to India, which promptly intervened and prevented Pakistan's takeover of the region.

Jammu and Kashmir became a vital part of India, yet Pakistan has continued to instigate turmoil there. For over forty years, it has financed terrorism under the guise of a separatist movement, fostering Islamic radicalization and attempting to revive the two-nation theory.

While Pakistan has attempted to frame the violence in Kashmir as a struggle for Kashmiri identity, it has simultaneously oppressed Balochistan, where the populace fights to safeguard their identity and resources. In contrast to Kashmir, which has experienced considerable development in terms of infrastructure, Balochistan has been marginalized, becoming one of the most disadvantaged and isolated regions.

Despite being the wealthiest province in Pakistan in terms of natural resources—such as gas and minerals—Balochistan remains the least developed. It lags behind in crucial metrics like health, education, and human security and has faced decades of discrimination and state repression, including forced disappearances, killings, torture, and human rights violations.

Compounding the plight of the Baloch people, China's rising influence in the region has exacerbated the insurgency. Balochistan is a critical component of the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The Gwadar Port, a key element of CPEC, serves as a major trade and energy transit hub for China. However, the Baloch people have vigorously opposed Chinese initiatives, perceiving them as exploitative.

What transpired with the hijacked Jaffar Express, which was en route from Quetta to Peshawar carrying over 400 passengers on March 11, remains uncertain. Following a 30-hour standoff, the Pakistani Army claimed to have successfully concluded the operation, while the BLA asserted that they had escaped with 214 hostages and executed them. The exact truth may never surface, but one fact is evident—Balochistan is experiencing a resurgence.

This time, the uprising may pose a greater challenge for Pakistan to suppress, given the multitude of crises it currently confronts. It has failed to gain the trust of the Baloch population and is now resorting to blaming external entities. Instead of falsely accusing others, including India, for its shortcomings, Pakistan must address its internal challenges.

It oppressed the Bangladeshis until they achieved independence in 1971. It has attempted to incite unrest in Punjab and Kashmir and has been linked to nearly every major terrorist incident in India. It has nurtured terrorist networks to destabilize India and other nations. Now, the chaos it has sown is finally returning to haunt Pakistan.

The very terrorist network it established has now turned against it, and it is facing the repercussions of its past actions. Balochistan acts as a mirror, revealing Pakistan's sinister ambitions.

(Deepika Bhan can be contacted at deepika.b@ians.in)