One of the many predicaments being faced by Pakistan today is that people like Shazain Bugti still prevail in the society with the same violent approaches. Shahzain Bugti announced head money for the former President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf back in 2012. The state authorities did not exhibit any response, and in fact it is the government which is seeding patterns on which a concrete insurgency could be built. The foresightedness of a state should not be myopic.
The political and military nexus has done a great job in Balochistan. The then Lt. General Nasser Khan Janjua worked with ex-chief minister Dr. Abdul Malik Baloch in setting up counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations against a variety of militant groups in the restive Balochistan province. He was replaced by Lt. General Amir Riaz, who eventually made Balochistan militant-free via different approaches. These approaches comprised tools of smart power which is a combination of hard and soft power. It includes military operations as well as rehabilitation programs like ‘Pur-Aman Balochistan’ which was initiated in 2015. This two-way process proved most effective in bringing the Balochistan nationalists into the mainstream.
Apart from that, statistics have helped to analyze the situation. In December 2015, 50 Baloch ‘militants’ abandoned armed struggle against the government and joined mainstream politics. In June 2017, Nehlan alias Lungri along with seven allegiances surrendered themselves and joined the mainstream nation. In March 2017, Baloch sub-nationalist (BSN) Ferrari Commander along with 20 other persons surrendered to security forces. In April 2017, 450 Ferrari commanders from Balochistan surrendered. These are a few glimpses of rehabilitation progress. Only economic benefits will suffice for these Ferraris. Otherwise, who can guarantee their loyalty and who can claim that they will not join their old masters, or that they will not challenge the writ of the state?
That said, it is important to clarify that it was not only economic and monetary issues which plagued Balochistan. It was significantly the ideology which has been manifested in the people of Balochistan in different forms; it was sometimes about their rights, sometimes about a greater Balochistan and sometimes it was the revenge of Akbar Bugti. The point to ponder here is that no matter what initiatives the government takes to de-radicalize these Ferraris, it will not be done in 2-3 months. Programs such as Project Mishal in Swat, which could train these Ferraris, are severely required in Balochistan but the instructors should be Baloch. Pakistan should learn its lesson from Sri Lanka; it should continue to accommodate ex-militants into rehabilitation processes and after that provide them substantial capital to adjust in the society. God forbid that the Ferraris turn rogue again.
In the absence of a broader political vision for peace, a framework for addressing the genuine grievances of the Baloch people and securing their socio-economic rights is needed. The government of Pakistan should take these genuine concerns into notice. The previous governments have not been able to produce desirable results. There is a dire need to maintain a framework in which above-mentioned issues could be catered to for the betterment of Balochistan and hence of Pakistan.