In the last 36-48 hours, two or three significant events and incidents in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have come to light, prompting the state, lawmakers, and the media to consider both future opportunities and concerns. Because it is more important to go forward than to set the groundwork for further tension, propaganda, and resentment.
Leaders of all major parties and parliamentary leaders, including the governor and the interior minister, attended the grand political jirga on the security situation in the province and the situation arising out of the PTM’s jirga that began today in Jamrud at the special invitation of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. All political stakeholders, including the federal government, attended. Everyone in attendance at this significant and constructive event agreed that PTM should be permitted to hold this jirga and that the combative mindset ought to be dropped. Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was permitted to speak with the aforementioned group to accomplish this goal.
Without any delay, the Chief Minister met with the PTM leadership and gave them assurances that the event would be organized peacefully in compliance with Pakistani law and the Constitution. He was accompanied by a group of legislative leaders from all parties. This avoided the possibility of a clash that certain groups had “planned” to “ensure.” The reason the event was permitted was that nearly all parties supported it, arguing that it is a customary jirga in which everyone wishes to take part and voice their opinions and that denying permission will lead to an unwarranted spike in tensions during a time when significant foreign delegations are visiting Pakistan and a negative message will be sent in the event of a possible confrontation.
After this incident, the state’s next move regarding the PTM ban will be evident, but for the time being, it is good that all parties involved have behaved responsibly and refrained from conflict.
The excellent development was welcomed by serious quarters but later an insurgent group in Balochistan’s Pashtun belt attacked some coal mines with heavy weapons late last night in a location named Dukki near Loralai, killing 20 miners and wounding 10. On this occasion, the armed group also fired grenades and rockets, in addition to burning mine machinery and other equipment.
Details of the 20 victims have been released. They were all Pashtuns by ethnicity. It was concluded that perhaps after the Baloch belt, some miscreants and terrorist groups have now come out to systematically target the Pashtun belt of Balochistan through such attacks. Because the systematic planning under which these “events” were carried out with full intensity is not known to be a routine procedure. In this context, it is undoubtedly feared that global and regional proxies and their local resistance groups have opened a new front. The Pashtun areas targeted in the attack included Pashin, Qila Saifullah, Kachlak, Musa Khel, Muslim Bagh and Zhob. Zhob and Musa Khel are already under constant attack by the TTP, but it is the first time that civilians have been targeted in this way. It is, therefore, imperative that this incident be seen in the context of the geopolitics of the region.
It is no coincidence that the World Bank acknowledged that Pakistan has emerged from its economic crisis and that more economic stability is anticipated in the country the night of the attack when plans were underway for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meeting and a high-level Saudi Arabian delegation was attending crucial meetings regarding Pakistan.
On the same day, important news related to China came out in the world media that despite the recent attack on the Chinese in Karachi, China is not only going to start more projects with Pakistan despite the efforts of some countries and proxies. China has also decided to have an integrated plan for the security of its own and Pakistan’s joint projects with Pakistan’s security forces.
These actions and the most recent occurrences must be viewed in tandem. These are not only coincidental events or regional endeavors. Under these circumstances, one must remain highly vigilant and monitor all potential threats and concerns regarding Pakistani affairs, particularly those about Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.