Pakistan’s biggest province (covering 40% of it) is also its worst governed and most neglected. Unrest began here 50 years ago but the situation has worsened, thanks to inept handling by Islamabad. Today, it is a hotbed of tribal unrest and jihadi activity by Taliban & al-Qaida.
Wealth: Uranium, copper, potentially rich in oil, produces more than one-third of Pakistan’s natural gas. It accounts for less than 4% of Pakistan’s population .
Strategic importance :Located on the Arabian Sea and close to the Strait of Hormuz. Balochistan lies to the east of Iran and south of Afghanistan. Any gas and oil pipelines from Qatar, Iran or Turkmenistan will have to pass through Balochistan to reach either India or China.
Baloch Liberation Army: Its leader Brahmdagh Bugti operates from Kandahar. Pakistan accuses India and Hamid Karzai’s Afghanistan of supporting Bugti with funds. BLA has regrouped during the Asif Ali Zardari regime. Another outfit, the Baluchistan Liberation United Front, abducted John Solecki, head of UNHCR’s operations in Quetta recently.
What do Baloch nationalists want? Autonomy; greater share of revenue from oil and gas; end to wanton military operations against them. More ambitious insurgents want independence from Pakistan.
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