Why Balochistan Remains to be Pakistan’s 'Problem Province' as Protesters Face Brutal Crackdown

Quetta: Pakistan army initiated a major crackdown in Gwar following intensified protests in Balochistan, which claimed lives of three while several ors were injured. This comes as security forces in region also opened fire upon protesters in Mastung injuring 14 people. 

In past few days, Baloch people have been protesting for ir rights to country's natural resources alleging that government is exploiting state's resources. People are opposing deals with Chinese government. 

This comes as people of Baluchistan are facing human rights violations from Pakistani authorities and army, continuing a long history of insurgency. 

Balochistan: Pakistan's Problem Province

Balochistan is Pakistan's largest province by area, but gracefully it is most resourced and mineral-rich as well. But despite being rich in minerals, people of Balochistan are long ignored by Punjabi and Sindhi-dominated national Politics and are forced to live in misery and extreme poverty.

Also, Being really small in Population, Balochistan's voice was never heard in Islamab, and Baloch people are feeling 'politically marginalised' in national politics. 

economically exploited province of Balochistan has long been deprived of its fair share of revenue, with most funds being diverted to Karachi and Lahore. Balochi people have consistently claimed that resources extracted from Balochistan fuel development in or parts of Pakistan. As a result, Balochistan remains one of least developed regions in country, suffering from high levels of poverty, low literacy rates, and poor infrastructure.

Human Rights Violation, Mass Disappearances

Balochi people in ir struggle for rights, are persistently subjected to human rights abuses including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and torture by security forces. Pakistani army, which has been de facto governing authority suppresses voices of Balochi people with extreme violence.

According to Human rights groups, In last 17 years over 15,000 people have been confirmed as extrajudicially killed or missing, while almost half a million have been forced to flee ir homes

Baloch Liberation and Insurgency

re is a significant portion of Baloch population that seeks greater autonomy or even independence from Pakistan. y believe that ir historical grievances and distinct ethnic identities justify a separate status or greater self-governance. 

Province is continuously faced uprisings and unrest since it became part of Pakistan in 1948. But, long struggle for independence has always been overshowed by regional conflicts of Kashmir and Afghanistan. 

CPEC and Importance of Gwar Port

China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a collection of infrastructure projects that are currently under construction throughout Pakistan, originally valued at $46 billion. It is a major part of China's Belt and Ro Initiative (BRI) with high-value investments from Chinese Authority. 

China views CPEC as an alternative tre route to Middle East, utilizing Balochistan's Gwar Port, which gives China significant strategic importance in region. CPEC has long faced backlash in Balochistan with a long series of protests and attacks on Chinese workers by militia groups. 

government and army still try to contain situation with force, not even sparing women and children making Balochistan a ‘problem province' for Pakistan.