Pakistan’s insecurity in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa breeds terror outfits
The security instability in Pakistan shows no signs of abating despite the ongoing counterterrorism operation, Azm-i-Istehkam (Resolve for Stability), announced in June.
Border provinces of Pakistan, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), are experiencing more attacks against local security forces as authorities struggle to provide stability for ethnic minorities in the country.
According to official figures, nearly 200 terror incidents were recorded in October alone, the majority in KPK and Balochistan. Amid pressure from China for a joint security unit, experts warn these provinces may face increasing instability in the coming months.
The loss of civilian lives and the forced internal migration in disturbed areas are creating a human rights crisis in Pakistan. There are worrying reports of enforced disappearances of Baloch and Pashtun youth in the tribal areas of KPK and Balochistan.
Well-known activists like Baloch Yakjehti Committee’s (BYC) Mahrang Baloch and Pashtun Tahafuz Movement’s (PTM) Manzoor Pashteen have been slapped with trumped up charges to silence their voices. Under pressure from Beijing, Islamabad has implemented draconian security and legal measures to suppress protests by the people in Balochistan, especially in the Gwadar district, who are directly impacted by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Security analysts say the prevailing political and security conditions in the two provinces will increase the chances of extremist groups recruiting many disgruntled youths for lack of economic opportunities.
Local reports show militants carried out 77 attacks across Pakistan in September, resulting in 77 fatalities. These included 38 security personnel, 23 civilians, and 16 militants. Additionally, 132 people were injured, including 78 civilians and 54 security personnel.
The Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an Islamabad-based think tank, shows data that although the militant attacks decreased by 12 percent in October, the overall death toll surged by 77 percent compared to September. October emerged as the second deadliest month of the year, following August, when 254 people were killed and 150 others injured in such incidents.
As per the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) data, the third quarter of 2024 saw a sharp increase, almost 147 percent, in fatalities of terrorist violence and counter-terrorism campaigns, with a 90 percent surge in violence. Pakistan military started a new anti-terror campaign in this period.
The federal government have significantly controlled the flow of information on the situation, with social media platforms like X remain banned in the country, along with restrictions on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Pakistan Army Chief, General Syed Asim Munir, has repeatedly called for stricter media control in Pakistan.
After the controversial ousting of Imran Khan’s government from power in April 2022, a large section of the population protested, attacking military installations, headquarters, and residences of senior military officers.
With increasing terror attacks and a deepening security void, there has been outrage from political leaders, the public, and even police—particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—against target killings. The helplessness of civilian law enforcement underscores the aggravating security situation, with police increasingly expressing distrust in the military’s control of anti-terror operations.
The National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), which comes under the Ministry of Interior in Pakistan, has largely remained non-functional since its establishment in 2008. It has been warning the federal government of long-term security consequences because of draconian measures taken against activists and civilian outfits in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The announcement of a new “comprehensive military operation” in Balochistan will likely exacerbate human rights violations and spur locals to join Baloch rebel groups. It is not helping that China is pressuring Pakistan to address Baloch insurgent groups following last month’s Karachi attack in which two Chinese nationals were killed and several others injured.
China and Pakistan are scheduled to hold their first joint counterterrorism military exercise in five years before the end of the year, raising fears of deployment of Chinese soldiers in Balochistan to protect the CPEC route and the Gwadar Port area
