MATTERS have come to such a pass in Balochistan that there’s barely time to cope with one tragedy when another one strikes. Following last month’s massive earthquake in the province, and subsequent attacks by Baloch separatists on government and military aid teams, the Quetta-bound Jaffar Express was hit by a blast in Nasirabad district on Monday. At least six people were killed and many others injured. It was sheer good fortune that the death toll was not higher, given that the explosion was of such magnitude that several bogies were derailed and the track was damaged. Coming from Rawalpindi, the train carried many who were returning after celebrating Eid with their families in Punjab.
Responsibility for the attack has been claimed by the proscribed Baloch Republican Army that cites military operations, discrimination against the province by the centre and denial of rights to the native population as reasons for its bloody tactics. True, Baloch grievances are many and legitimate, and it is not surprising that militancy is increasing in intensity. But the targeting of civilians must be condemned in the strongest terms. As elsewhere in the country, innocents have often been targeted in Balochistan, and migrants from other provinces are particularly vulnerable. But much of the blame also rests with the security establishment and political governments in the past and now. They have either actively contributed to Balochistan’s descent into chaos or have simply stood by, not taking remedial action, and thus causing the province to be split along several fault lines. From the issue of underdevelopment to that of missing persons reportedly in the illegal custody of the security apparatus, too many matters have been left to fester. What will it take for the state to wake up to its responsibilities?
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Balochistan: Another tragedy: Train bombing
MATTERS have come to such a pass in Balochistan that there’s barely time to cope with one tragedy when another one strikes. Following last month’s massive earthquake in the province, and subsequent attacks by Baloch separatists on government and military aid teams, the Quetta-bound Jaffar Express was hit by a blast in Nasirabad district on Monday. At least six people were killed and many others injured. It was sheer good fortune that the death toll was not higher, given that the explosion was of such magnitude that several bogies were derailed and the track was damaged. Coming from Rawalpindi, the train carried many who were returning after celebrating Eid with their families in Punjab.
Responsibility for the attack has been claimed by the proscribed Baloch Republican Army that cites military operations, discrimination against the province by the centre and denial of rights to the native population as reasons for its bloody tactics. True, Baloch grievances are many and legitimate, and it is not surprising that militancy is increasing in intensity. But the targeting of civilians must be condemned in the strongest terms. As elsewhere in the country, innocents have often been targeted in Balochistan, and migrants from other provinces are particularly vulnerable. But much of the blame also rests with the security establishment and political governments in the past and now. They have either actively contributed to Balochistan’s descent into chaos or have simply stood by, not taking remedial action, and thus causing the province to be split along several fault lines. From the issue of underdevelopment to that of missing persons reportedly in the illegal custody of the security apparatus, too many matters have been left to fester. What will it take for the state to wake up to its responsibilities?
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