QUETTA: Students, sent out with hopes of a better future, fall prey to extremist ideologies. These ideologies have no formal monitoring or support system in place, there is little to safeguard these vulnerable youth. The alarming examples of Shadad Mumtaz and Aftab Jatak from Balochistan, among others, highlight how once-peaceful students from tribal regions were brainwashed into becoming suicide bombers.
In this regard, the discussions around Balochistan’s challenges often revolve around resource scarcity, law and order issues, and political injustices, one critical issue remains largely unaddressed: the silent radicalization of young students from Balochistan’s tribal areas who pursue education in Punjab and Sindh under government-funded scholarships.
Furthermore, there are millions spent each year to facilitate higher education for students from remote areas, yet no committees or monitoring mechanisms exist to ensure their well-being or academic progress.
In this case, several experts stressed that when Baloch students leave their restrictive home environments, they often find themselves isolated and unsupervised in new, unfamiliar settings.
In this vulnerability, they become easy targets for various extremist groups who exploit their loneliness, financial needs, or emotional struggles.
آج جب ہم بلوچستان کے مسائل پر بات کرتے ہیں تو اکثر بات وسائل کی کمی، بدامنی یا سیاسی ناانصافی پر ہوتی ہے۔ لیکن ایک مسئلہ ایسا بھی ہے جو خاموشی سے نوجوانوں کو نگل رہا ہے اور وہ ہے تعلیم حاصل کرنے والے بلوچستان کے قبائلی علاقے سے آیا نوجوان جو بلوچستان سے باہر پنجاب و سندھ میں… pic.twitter.com/F14zCuxGt2
— Dukhtar-E-Balochistan🇵🇰 (@Dukhtar_B) April 26, 2025
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In addition, many students are recruited into so-called “student organizations” that, rather than promoting education, act as fronts for political or militant agendas.
In such a case, where data indicates that nearly 90% of Baloch suicide bombers had once been students studying outside the province on government scholarships. These young individuals, originally sent to gain an education, tragically ended up as victims of radicalization.
Every problem has its own set of solutions, and the government of Balochistan has to address these concerns to build students of Balochistan in every aspect.
Moreover, scholarship disbursement must be linked to verified class attendance and academic performance. Additionally, universities should implement biometric attendance systems and provide periodic reports to relevant government bodies. This step would increase parental confidence and instill a sense of responsibility among students.
In this sense, students from tribal regions often face unfamiliar social and cultural challenges. Meanwhile, a system similar to “no work, no pay” employment rules could be applied to scholarships: “work hard, achieve good grades, and continue receiving support.”
