This is not the first time Baluch Separatists have butchered innocent non-Baluchs and or service personnel. Baluch separatism has been going on since the independence. Since many young Pakistan are unaware of the history of Baluchistan problem; permit to briefly describe the background.
Under the Raj, Baluchistan consisted of a Chief Commissioner’s province and 4 semi-independent States. While Quetta along with 3 States (Makran, Las Bela & Kharan opted to join Pakistan; Kalat did not and then Khan of Kalat, Ahmed Yar Khan declared independence. Ahmed Yar Khan finally acceded to Pakistan on March 27, 1948, but his brother, Prince Abdul Karim refused to lay down arms and it required a minor military action to finally quell the revolt. The insurgency never really stopped and every few years the matters would heat up in one place or another. Last major uprising was during ZAB time in 1973 which finally stopped in 1977, soon after Zia-ul Haq takeover.
According to Khair Baksh Marri, who led the insurgency during 1973-1977 “Parliamentary politics is not an option for us so we’re forced to make politics with weapons”? Baluchistan Liberation Army (BLA) was led by Khair Baksh son Bleach from 2000 until his death in 2007. Understand it is now run by another son, Hyrbyair who lives in London. Major actions carried out by BLA were the destruction of the lodge in Ziarat, favorite resting house of the Quaid, in June 2013 and killing 13 bus passengers in August 2013. United Baluch Army, a splinter from BLA, killed 22 Pashtuns in Mustung on May 29, 2105.
Most active is the Baluchistan Liberation Front (BLF) led by Dr. Allah Nazar. BLF had earlier killed 20 labored in Turbot.
An insurgent group linked to the Mengel tribe active in the central Baluchistan is Lashkar-e-Baluchistan. They alleged carried bomb attacks in Lahore & Karachi in 2012,
Akbar Bugti’s grandson Barhamdagh Bugti leads another Baluch insurgency. He was based in Afghanistan until 2010 and now lives in Geneva.
The Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar (BRAS), an alliance of armed ethnic Baloch separatist groups claimed responsibility for the recent attack in an emailed statement released on Thursday, April 16, 2019.
According to the "Economist" article, I came across:
"[The Baloch separatists] are supported—with money, influence or sympathy—by some members of the powerful Bugti tribe and by parts of the Baloch middle class. This makes today's insurgency stronger than previous ones, but the separatists will nevertheless struggle to prevail over Pakistan's huge army.
On 12 August 2009, Khan of Kalat Mir Suleiman Dawood declared himself ruler of Balochistan and formally announced a Council for Independent Balochistan. The council's claimed domain includes Sistan and Baluchistan provinces of Iran as well as Pakistani Balochistan but does not include Afghan Baloch regions. The council claimed the allegiance of "all separatist leaders including Nawabzada Bramdagh Bugti." Suleiman Dawood stated that the UK had a "moral responsibility to raise the issue of Balochistan's illegal occupation at the international level."
My point for the above is that by blaming all on Modi you are acting exactly as the Indians did after Pulwama attack. Baluchistan problem has existed long before Modi came on the scene.
Undoubtedly India is one of the main supporters of Baluch insurgency and other terrorist organization, but we simply can’t shift our responsibility on foreign hands. Remember, unless hot cinders are present underneath the ashes; you can’t fan the fire into flames. There has to be underlying widespread discontent among the Baluch population else the insurgency would have died out long ago.
By all means, root out the really rogue elements, but GOP must address the root cause of the problem if we want to have peace & quiet in Baluchistan. IMO the underlying cause is a sense of neglect and a perceived exploitation by the Islamabad.
Incidentally, how do we propose to punish Modi? By pressing the nuclear button?