Balochi leader Mengal says Islamabad is forcing even moderates to take extreme steps

Former Balochistan chief minister Akhtar Mengal has warned the Pakistan government that although he is not aligned with militants in the country’s strife-torn province, its biggest by size, Islamabad is routinely pushing even moderate politicians like him and others to a dire situation due to their unfair treatment of ethnic Balochis.

“We don’t approve of what the militants in Balochistan are doing, but we understand why they are doing what they are doing. The government of Pakistan is the main reason for militancy. The government is pushing the rest of us Balochis also towards that end by unleashing brutalities on Balochis, including women and children,” Mengal, chairman of Balochistan National Party (Mengal), told Open on the phone as he travelled from Karachi to Wadh, his hometown.

On March 28, BNP will take out what it describes as a “Long March” from Wadh to Quetta demanding the release of the leaders of human-rights group Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) like Mahrang Baloch and others. Mengal expects more political entities in the region – the most under-developed in Pakistan – to join the march to pressurise the establishment to leave the women and children alone.

According to Balochi leaders, Pakistani authorities have heightened their oppression and violence against the Balochi people since the hijacking of a passenger train carrying more than 400 people travelling from Quetta to Peshawar by Baloch separatists on 11 March. Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, which resulted in around 60 deaths.

Writing just weeks after the attack on trains, which were considered safer than road transport, Dr Farzana Shaikh, Associate Fellow, Asia-Pacific Programme, at Chatham House, wrote that the “region’s insurgency is fuelled by state-led policies geared to maximise the extraction of Balochistan’s rich natural resources (gas and minerals) with little or no benefit to its local population. Violence has grown in proportion to the seeming disregard of Baloch grievances over the lack of distributive justice, the absence of accountability and bogus representation.”

She also noted that separatist violence has risen sharply since the 2024 general elections, which were denounced as illegitimate by Baloch nationalist leaders.

For his part, Akhtar Mengal blamed the deep state in Pakistan, which he also described as “the establishment”, of single-mindedly pursuing exploitation of Balochistan. “All major political parties in Pakistan are interested only in glib talk when it comes to addressing the grievances of the people of Balochistan. When they come to power, be it the Pakistan Muslim League (N) or PTI (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf) or any other, they yield to the wishes of the establishment,” Mengal said, emphasising that, historically, the people of Balochistan have been persecuted in Pakistan.

Highlighting that the Balochi fight is grounded on genuine economic and political grievances, Mengal had lashed out at the Pakistan government on X (formerly Twitter) early this month, saying that “There is not a single inch of Balochistan left where the government can claim authority. They have lost this war completely and irreversibly. It is over.”

He also launched a sharp attack on the federal government in Pakistan over the arrest of Dr Mahrang Baloch of BYC. “Mahrang Baloch has been arrested for simply speaking the truth. The truth about pain, loss and injustice that has been ignored for years. She stood peacefully, bravely, with nothing but the voice of her people, and for that, she was silenced. The BYC activists raised no weapons, only words and yet they were treated like criminals. Is this really how you want to solve problems? By arresting those who speak, by punishing those who ask for rights? If this is your idea of justice, then good luck to you. But remember, no matter how many you silence, the truth will keep rising. We demand the immediate release of Dr Mahrang Baloch and all BYC activists,” he said.

Mengal told Open that though he has no ideological affinity for Balochi militants, he understands clearly why they had left their families, friends and even the luxuries of life to live in tough conditions in the mountains. “It is because of years of injustice against the Balochis,” he said, adding that the response to calls for unity among various groups in Balochistan has been tremendous.

Akhtar MengalBalochistanBalochistan National PartygeopoliticsIndia-PakistanPakistan Muslim League (N)PTIWeb Exclusive