ABSTRACT
The chapter addresses the followingquestions:Why after a 23-year-long absence did insurgent violence return to Balochistan? How does the Baloch nationalist narrative explain it? Answer to this would help us understand the immediate causes of the return of violence and the overall Baloch narrative of enduring injustice. Before October 1999, most Baloch nationalists were participating in the mainstream politics, contesting elections and seeking to resolve what they considered the province’s grievances through parliamentary means. This changed when General Musharraf took over and started to consolidate his power. He started a number of ambitious developmental projects including the Gwadar Port project. When the Baloch elite opposed these projects, he adopted an aggressive policy. In the current Baloch insurgency, two new trends have emerged: the targeted killings of settlers and abductions of Baloch nationalists, pro-federation Baloch leaders and activists.
At present, a number of insurgent groups such as the Baloch Liberation Army, Baloch Liberation Front, and Baloch Republic Army are active in Balochistan. These groups not only differ in their objectives and approach but at times act in cross-purpose. Apart from the nationalist violence, Balochistan is also facing sectarian violence and a number of organized criminal groups are active in Balochistan.
