IN FOCUS
Baloch’s social, economic, and political autonomy and their
sense of alienation. It is alleged that since 2003, more than
23,000 students, lawyers, women, journalists, writers and
human rights activists have faced forceful disappearances
by the Pakistani army and its death squads. It is pertinent to
mention that the duplicity of the Pakistani Army is noticeable
again in two stages through which it has enhanced its
infl uence and autonomy in the province. On one hand, the
Army continues to use its “strategic assets” i.e. non-state
actors to deal with sub-national movements and on the other,
it has recently carried out a military operation in Balochistan
under the broad banner of “Operation Radd-ul-Fassad”, to
garner and consolidate the gains of the previous military
operations. Such attempts to achieve both the unity and the
elimination of terror risks in the province and Pakistan at large
can be linked to achieve the smooth functioning of the CPEC
in a “terror free Pakistan.” By projecting CPEC as a successful
hunch, the Pakistani Army has in a subtle manner increased
its presence impacting Balochistan even at the societal level
by accelerating the local alienation further. This is also done
by carrying out strict security surveillance and control of
the locals by the Army and various intelligence agencies
impinging on the dignity of the individuals and undermining
the particularity of its socio-cultural fabric.
The increased interference of the military in the garb of
CPEC is not limited to a societal level alone. In fact, it has also
helped the military establishment spread its tentacles over the
economic policymaking in Pakistan. Any decision to undertake
trade and investment relations with external economies are not
taken on the basis of a rational cost and benefi t analysis but on
the basis of the military’s own interests as a commercial actor.
The military continues to be not just the richest land owner in
Pakistan but it is also the largest capital owner in the country
with a net worth of more than USD 20 billion.
The military establishment is Pakistan is not only showing a preference for CPEC
for sustenance and survival but it has also become a tool for the military to
increase its existing stronghold over the economy.
44 • Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 6 • Issue 10 • Oct-Nov 2018, Noida