Structural Violence and Protracted Insurgency in Baluchistan: Investigating its Implications on National Security of Pakistan

Violence in Baluchistan has been the subject of attention since the initial rebellion in 1948. Subsequently, Baluchistan has been experiencing a protracted insurgency and counterinsurgency operations carried out by the security forces. The study examines the policies implemented by the Pakistani government as a direct cause of violence and insurgency, which has resulted in ongoing security operations in Baluchistan. I contend that discriminatory state policies and persistent neglect have resulted in a sense of hopelessness among the disenfranchised population. Additionally, there is a growing public sentiment that the state is grabbing their resources without their consent. Based on Galtung's theory of structural violence and conflict theory, I argue that discriminatory state policies, prolonged neglect, and limited public involvement in developmental enterprises have generated a sense of despair and hopelessness. Consequently, these communities have resorted to armed resistance in order to safeguard their rights, pushing the security dynamics of this region from being neglected area to the epicenter of international headlines.