QUETTA: Former provincial minister Mir Naveed Baloch has acknowledged that although development in Balochistan has not progressed at the pace it should have, it is incorrect to claim that no progress has been made at all.
Speaking at the Burak Digital podcast, he said the roots of the current insurgency in Balochistan lie in the deep frustration and disillusionment of the youth, many of whom once looked up to nationalist parties engaged in parliamentary politics.
Mir Naveed Baloch pointed out that several prominent figures involved in the insurgency were initially affiliated with mainstream nationalist political parties. “For instance, Dr. Allah Nazar was associated with the National Party, while Bashir Zeb Baloch was a prominent leader of BSO. Many from BSO and BNP, after becoming disappointed with party leadership and the limitations of parliamentary politics, took to the mountains,” he said.
He said that nationalist parties in Balochistan failed to deliver effectively, which created a vacuum of hope among the younger generation. “This failure to meet expectations led many of our youth to choose the path of militancy,” he added.
He said that the creation of Pakistan is now a reality. Half of the Baloch population lives outside Balochistan, in other parts of Pakistan, while the other half remains within the province.
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He argued against the idea of separatism, saying it would not serve the interests of the Baloch people. “Instead of seeking division, we should strive to strengthen our identity and role within Pakistan. We must work to build a better future from within this country,” he concluded.
