Balochistan: From periphery to strategic pressure point

Brig Naseem A Khan (R), Nouroz Khan Bijarani SECURITY crises no longer unfold in isolation; they intersect, amplify and spill across regions. In South Asia, this convergence, sharpened by US-Iran tensions, has pushed Baluchistan from the periphery to the centre of Pakistan’s security calculus. The province now sits at the intersection of domestic fragilities and intensifying external competition. Insurgent narratives, ethnic fault lines and governance deficits increasingly intersect with great-power rivalry and regional instability. Afghanistan’s volatility and cross-border militant linkages, alongside evolving Indo-Afghan ties, further compound these risks. At the same time, Baluchistan’s strategic location overlooking the Strait of Hormuz and adjacent to key maritime routes has heightened its relevance within the broader Iran-US strategic environment, exposing internal vulnerabilities to external amplification. Historical Roots: A Persistent Fault Line: Despite deep-rooted patriotism, insurgency in Baluchistan is driven by enduring political, economic and identity grievances that have resurfaced in recurring waves. The 2006 killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti marked a critical inflection point, shifting localized resistance into a more organized and geographically dispersed insurgency. The movement expanded beyond rural strongholds into urban centres, drawing in educated youth, segments of the middle class and increasingly women. This shift: from a negotiable, tribal-led insurgency to a more diffuse, urban middle-class movement, has made it less amenable to engagement through traditional hierarchies. These dynamics reflect deeper structural drivers. Perceptions of resource extraction without equitable local benefit, particularly in the context of large-scale development initiatives, have reinforced deprivation and exclusion. Governance failures have further deepened the crisis. Entrenched tribal hierarchies have constrained representative politics, while a security-heavy