Baloch Nationalists Demand Greater Autonomy
Balochistan is Pakistan’s poorest and most neglected province and there have been several insurgencies by Baloch nationalist over six decades that have been brutally crushed by the military.
Whereas previously Baloch nationalists demanded greater autonomy within the federation of Pakistan, today the situation has worsened and many Baloch are demanding a separate country for themselves.
The danger is that amidst all of Pakistan’s other problems – a crashing economy, political unrest and the Taleban insurgency in the north – the Baloch will come to feel more and more neglected and forgotten, thereby increasing the chances of more spectacular acts of terrorism.
Balochistan needs a political solution and quickly, but so far the government has failed to take remedial measures to improve the economic downturn and massive unemployment in the province or to talk to the dissidents.
In the meantime the fate of a UN official, who has spent several years helping poor Baloch people, hangs in the balance.
Balochistan is Pakistan’s poorest and most neglected province and there have been several insurgencies by Baloch nationalist over six decades that have been brutally crushed by the military.
Whereas previously Baloch nationalists demanded greater autonomy within the federation of Pakistan, today the situation has worsened and many Baloch are demanding a separate country for themselves.
The danger is that amidst all of Pakistan’s other problems – a crashing economy, political unrest and the Taleban insurgency in the north – the Baloch will come to feel more and more neglected and forgotten, thereby increasing the chances of more spectacular acts of terrorism.
Balochistan needs a political solution and quickly, but so far the government has failed to take remedial measures to improve the economic downturn and massive unemployment in the province or to talk to the dissidents.
In the meantime the fate of a UN official, who has spent several years helping poor Baloch people, hangs in the balance.
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