Targeting Development and Progress: The Notorious Strategy of Baloch Militant Organizations (BMOs)
Baloch Militant Groups (BMOs) like Baloch Liberation Army and Baloch Liberation Front have long claimed to fight and resist in the name of nationalism. Their alleged pledge and brand of nationalism, however, becomes highly dubious and suspicious when we consider their primary targets and modus operandi. BMOs are amongst the only terrorist/insurgent groups in Pakistan that specifically target developmental projects and vital infrastructures, especially in the very province they allegedly claim to represent. This raises serious questions about both their real intentions and professed ideology.
While one may ideologically oppose an individual or an entity, targeting developmental projects and infrastructures that bring benefit and respite to local people, is difficult to synthesize and comprehend. A legitimate rational actor, no matter how disgruntled or aggrieved, would not target developmental projects that would benefit its own community. A group cannot claim to be loyal to its people if it categorically sets out to destroy the very community’s prospects of development and progress.
“A legitimate rational actor, no matter how disgruntled or aggrieved, would not target developmental projects that would benefit its own community”
BMOs would typically argue that the main reason why they target developmental projects in Balochistan is because they feel it will bring in a huge influx of migrants, especially from Punjab, which would overwhelm the fragile demography of the province.
While it is true that the Baloch ethnicity has a very slim majority in a very thinly populated province, claims about it being replaced or overwhelmed by a migrant majority are largely erroneous and unwarranted.
Admittedly, amidst a migration, it is indeed crucial is to protect the local population and indigenous values with prudent and sensible long-term policies. What is crucial and must be duly acknowledged is that development of a region and protection of its people, are not exclusive values, as BMOs would have us believe. Instead, they go hand in hand and mutually reinforce one another.
It is a rule of thumb that development and progress anywhere in the world attracts migrants from within and outside the country. Influx of voluntary migration is in fact directly proportional to development and progress. All developed countries of the world, from the Middle East to Western Europe and North America, attract immigrants from all over the world. Such migratory patterns have not only further enriched all such societies but have also added value to indigenous customs and traditions of the respective regions.
In other words, a healthy and sustained inflow of migrants, especially from within a country, brings in diversity, expertise and skilled labor, which consequently boosts the local economy and commerce.
Opposing development in anticipation of subsequent migration is therefore a baseless and unfounded assumption that deprives a region of much-needed growth and progress. Any group or party that opposes development over the pretext of migration is in fact masking its own inherent bigotry, prejudice and xenophobia. For the benefit of a region and its people, it is necessary to expose all such groups that hinder progress and development over false pretexts.
“Opposing development in anticipation of subsequent migration is therefore a baseless and unfounded assumption that deprives a region of much-needed growth and progress”
In light of this analysis, BMOs relentless campaign against development and construction projects in Balochistan becomes indefensible. It is clear that they can foresee that development would bring jobs and prosperity to the locals, which would diminish the support and sympathy for the BMOs. This explains why they are so strongly opposed to any kind of development in the province and effectively seek to derail all such projects and initiatives. As opposed to their stated reasons, it is crucial therefore to critically analyze and breakdown the deceptive and self-contradictory narrative of the Baloch militant groups.
Deliberately hindering and stagnating growth and development over false and misguided pretexts is a travesty against the people of that region. Self-proclaimed nationalism and alleged loyalty of individuals and groups that profess otherwise, is unmistakably selfish and disingenuous and must therefore be resisted and exposed unreservedly.