Balochistan’s March Of Progress Will Continue – OpEd
Key Takeaways:
- Terrorists attacked a police post guarding the Mangi Dam project in Ziarat, killing nine officers and kidnapping/killing 18 more, in an assault aimed at disrupting a critical water supply initiative for water-scarce Quetta (expected to provide 8 million gallons daily).
- Balochistan CM Mir Sarfraz Bugti vowed that terrorism would not halt development, announced a judicial commission, and rejected attempts to separate Balochistan from Pakistan, while attributing the attack to TTP and calling for strong security alongside governance improvements.
- The article argues that such attacks, often linked to groups like TTP and BLA (with alleged external support), aim to create fear and delay progress, but the best response is accelerating transparent development projects, improving security, and engaging youth to counter propaganda portraying infrastructure as exploitation.
The terrorist attack on the security personnel guarding Mangi Dam project was not just attack on a security post. This was an attack on water security of Quetta, development of Balochistan and on the rights of common people. The water project to supply about eight million gallons a day to the city of Quetta, which suffers from a heavy water scarcity, is the near Rs20 billion Mangi Dam and water conveyance scheme. Due to the pressure imposed on the city of provincial capital due to excessive extraction of groundwater and frequent drought, its importance has increased. The project is a supply of drinking water for families, a respite for neighbourhoods and a better future for a booming city.
That’s the reason that it’s important to have a target. In the area of Mangi Dam of Ziarat, terrorists attacked a police post that was protecting the project. The official version of events states that nine cops lost their lives in the initial attack and 18 more were kidnapped and killed. The staffs were reportedly able to repel the attackers, and 15 militants were reportedly killed. The viciousness of the attack revealed that the perpetrators were not only determined to destroy lives but also thwart a public interest initiative, in order to weaken the state and instill fear.
The response of Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, as such, is not only politically important but also strategically imperative as terrorism will not stop development. He has claimed the Mangi dam was attacked as it is one of Pakistan’s water supply projects and reiterated that Pakistan and Balochistan can never be separated. While the provincial government will address public concerns and investigate security failures, it will not give up the province’s agenda for development on to armed groups. A judicial commission has also been announced, and a strong security approach and institutional accountability can go together.
The chief minister said the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) took the responsibility of the attack and military sources said the attack was a “multi-directional” operation carried out by the TTP terrorists. These claims defy the veiled attempts to exploit the tragedy by tarnishing the image of Pakistan’s security institutions, through false accusations. Expect families to ask questions about their preparedness, reinforcement and operational failures. These questions help build institutions if asked in an open and honest manner. But proper grief should not be distorted into something that tries to disguise the perpetrators and their goals. The primary responsibility is on the terrorists who had planned the attack and killed police officers and targeted the civilian infrastructure.
The broader struggle is also taking place on social media, political messaging and youth talk. Balochistan’s youth are constantly under the spell of propaganda which keeps them believing that all development projects are forms of exploitation, the use of security forces as oppression and all acts of terrorism as resistance. In this narrative moral responsibility is taken off the shoulders of armed groups and all the anger and frustration is diverted to the state. It aims to transform real issues of unemployment, government, representation and distribution of resources into support for violence. But the state has to respond in many ways that go beyond force: they also have to be transparent in governance, create jobs, develop education, include in politics and become visible in the development of the country.
There are many organizations that operate along these lines, like the TTP and BLA, with different ideology and declared objectives but with the same effect of killing of citizens, causing fear in the communities and delay in investments, and destruction of infrastructure. Indian intelligence agency RAW has been accused of supporting anti-Pakistan militant groups by Pakistani intelligence agencies on a number of occasions and India has denied the allegations. That’s something that should be recognized. However, there are no doubts about the impact of terrorism. Attacks on water systems, roads, schools, workers and police, often perpetrated by religious extremists, separatists or out of geopolitical competition, are designed to stop the normal life and development.
Armed separatists can not say they’re defending Balochistan when they attack projects that are needed by the people of Balochistan. A movement which disrupts the infrastructure of water and kills local police officers and scares away workers is not working towards freedom, it is creating deprivation. Violence can cause some delay in construction, but it cannot bring any kind of political future for the Baloch or cut off the constitutional, economic and historical ties of Balochistan with Pakistan. The chief minister’s assertion that there is scope for dialogue within the constitutional framework doesn’t undermine the sovereignty or territorial integrity but is a necessary assessment of the nature of politics and political engagement.
But the government has to now turn intent to action. The construction of Mangi dam should be done without any further unhelpful delay, it should be transparent in terms of the costs involved and employment and direct benefits should be provided to the local communities. The security conditions at strategic development locations ought to be expertly examined. The sacrifices of police personnel should be acknowledged by improved equipment and greater intelligence co-ordination and timely reinforcement, rather than by mere words. When citizens feel the benefits of development, it is the best response to terrorism.
Gunmen in the mountains, and propagandist trying to split the youth from the state will not determine Balochistan’s future. This will be determined by classrooms, roads, hospitals, water projects and the participation of its people in a democratic way. The Mangi Dam attack was aimed at instilling a sense of fear and to hinder progress. The appropriate response should be to stop the perpetrators and correct institutional shortcomings and to finish the project. Peace, development, rule of law and the sense of ties between Baloch and Pakistan is finally going to outlast all campaigns of terror and extremism.
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