PM’s ‘submissions’ on Balochistan — rhetoric or real reform?

Shehbaz Sharif’s speech at a grand jirga on Balochistan offered dialogue and development, but such proposals have been made in the past as well

OPINION, June 1, 2025

PRIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s speech at a recent grand jirga on the Balochistan issue, as reported by leading newspapers such as Dawn and The Express Tribune, left one with a lingering question: Is he truly in control of the situation in the province?

The speech was peppered with promises and proposals, but made no mention of the progress made on any previously launched initiatives — whether his own or those of his predecessors. What stood out more than the pledges was a discernible lack of reflection or accountability for the failures that have compounded the crisis in Balochistan over the years.

Dawn opened its report with the prime minister’s call for bringing “misled” Baloch back into the fold through dialogue. Likewise, The Express Tribune quoted him as saying he was ready to sit across the table with those “led astray” by terrorist elements, pledging to deliver “social and economic justice” to the people of the province. He spoke of grievances that needed to be addressed “in the spirit of brotherhood”.

The jirga was attended by high-level figures: Field Marshal Gen Syed Asim Munir, Acting Governor Abdul Khaliq Achakzai, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, and senior civil and military officials. The significance of the gathering cannot be understated — but neither can the implications of the prime minister’s language.

Sharif attributed the recent surge in terrorist violence in Balochistan to foreign interference, particularly from India. He described these actors as “bloodthirsty terrorists” who oppose Pakistan’s development and act “at the behest of foreign elements”. While such claims may reflect strategic anxieties, they sidestep the deeper issues of local discontent and systemic disenfranchisement.

The prime minister’s remarks seemed to absolve past and present rulers — civilian and military alike — of responsibility for the long-running turmoil in the province. That, I believe, is a shortsighted approach to a complex and painful crisis that has spanned decades.

Sharif announced hefty financial packages for Balochistan’s development: Rs70 billion for a solarisation project, Rs150 billion for the notoriously dangerous N-25 highway, and Rs250 billion from the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) — representing 25 per cent of the PSDP’s Rs1,000 billion budget.

But this raises a fundamental contradiction. If those who have taken up arms are merely “misled terrorists”, why extend an olive branch to them through dialogue? Dialogue, by its very nature, implies recognition of legitimate grievances. And there are grievances — very real ones.

Chief among them is the unresolved issue of missing persons in Balochistan. This longstanding concern is not just a source of anguish for Baloch families; it is a major obstacle to any meaningful reconciliation. Dialogue without truth and accountability risks becoming an exercise in futility. Yet acknowledging this issue squarely would require scrutiny of powerful stakeholders — past and present — within the state apparatus. And this represents a major problem.

Moreover, the prime minister appeared to rely on the idea that financial investment alone can resolve decades of mistrust and alienation. While economic uplift is critical — and long overdue — throwing money at the problem without addressing structural injustices and human rights violations is unlikely to deliver lasting peace. Development without dignity will not suffice.

Finally, if Mr Sharif genuinely believes dialogue is the best path forward, why is he merely suggesting it rather than issuing clear directives? Identifying the right course is one thing; implementing it is another. At this pivotal moment, Balochistan does not need platitudes — it needs decisive and inclusive action.