By: Ashir Azeem
I have served Pakistan as a civil servant and worked in the media as a storyteller. I’ve seen narratives being shaped—both inside and outside this country. And I can no longer stay silent.
What’s happening in Balochistan is not just a local issue. It’s part of a global structure. One that picks and chooses what to highlight and what to ignore.
Western media and NGOs often talk about Balochistan. But they never talk about the victims of terrorism. They only talk about separatists—and even then, only about their “human rights.” They never ask: What exactly do you want?
They don’t question the use of violence. They don’t expose the contradictions.
Let’s be clear. When someone picks up a gun against the state, it’s not freedom—it’s rebellion. And rebellion has a cost.
I’ve seen interviews where separatist leaders make wild claims. Respected Western journalists nod along, never asking tough questions. That’s not journalism. That’s complicity.
There’s a system at play. A designed structure. Media, NGOs, awards, even financial institutions—they all align when it suits their geopolitical interests. If your cause weakens a target state, you’ll get funding. You’ll win awards. You’ll make the cover of a magazine.
Look at Iraq and Syria. Now look at how some are trying to do the same in Balochistan.
Separatist leaders talk about “freedom.” But they never mention the Baloch in Iran or Afghanistan. Why? Because that’s not their real concern. They just want to weaken Pakistan, and their silence exposes them.
Ask yourself: why demand “freedom” from a country where people already vote, speak their language, and live with cultural freedom?
Pakistan isn’t perfect. But it’s free.
We’ve made mistakes. The state has been heavy-handed at times. But the solution isn’t rebellion. It’s a stronger democracy. More inclusion and real decentralization.
Some say, “Let’s teach in local languages.” I support that idea. But do we have the research, the content, and the people to write full textbooks in Balochi or Punjabi? We must prepare first. Otherwise, we’ll just translate Western books into local tongues. That won’t build identity.
Culture isn’t built with violence. It’s built with stories, songs, language, media, and pride. You don’t need bullets to save your culture. You need effort.
Social media is now the new battlefield. Misleading slogans reach young, emotional, unemployed boys. A few words, a little money—and they are turned into tools.
But they’re not lost. They’re not born to kill. They want peace. They want jobs. They want dignity.
We must give them options. Not just say “Don’t join militants,” but show them a better path. It’s like garbage management. You can’t just say “Don’t litter.” You must provide dustbins. That’s how real solutions work.
Pakistan’s strength is its diversity. Baloch, Punjabi, Pashtun, Sindhi—we are one nation with many colours. That’s our beauty.
Let’s stop playing games with words like “freedom.” Let’s call things what they are. Let’s fix what’s broken—but within Pakistan.
We don’t need rebellion. We need reform.
We don’t need slogans. We need action.
We don’t need foreign applause. We need local solutions.
Let’s build that Pakistan together.
