Pakistan grapples with a persistent issue: targeted killings based on ethnicity and religion. The recent massacre of nine Punjabi passengers in Noshki, Balochistan, exemplifies this grim reality.
Armed militants stopped a bus on the Quetta-Taftan highway, identified the Punjabi passengers, and murdered them. This echoes a similar attack last year where six Punjabi construction workers were killed in Turbat. Sectarian violence also plagues the nation. In 2011 and 2012, Shia passengers were massacred in separate incidents.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for Noshki, highlighting a pattern of targeting “outsiders,” often poor workers. While the separatists’ grievances deserve recognition, these killings only alienate their cause.
Balochistan’s insecurity mirrors national security concerns. Religious militancy flourishes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the north, while Baloch separatism creates a volatile situation in Balochistan. These independent but equally dangerous threats demand immediate attention.
Despite a heavy security presence, Balochistan struggles to control militancy. Why do separatists continue to target civilians and security forces?
A two-pronged approach is crucial. In the short term, authorities must neutralize armed groups and sever their links with potential foreign backers. Long-term solutions require addressing poverty and deprivation in the region to weaken recruitment for separatist movements.