QUETTA, Pakistan – Coordinated attacks by Baloch separatists across Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, commencing on 31 January, have resulted in the deaths of over 190 individuals, including civilians. The two-day period of violence, described by authorities as one of the most serious escalations in years, affected a dozen cities and towns, leading to widespread disruption and impacting civilian infrastructure.

The attacks involved suicide bombings, grenade strikes, and intense gunfire, targeting hospitals, residential areas, schools, banks, and marketplaces. Security forces vowed retaliation following the incidents, which caused significant damage and fear amongst the populace.

Prominent Abduction and Rescue

During the coordinated assaults, Maria Shamoon, Balochistan’s first Christian woman to attain the rank of assistant commissioner through the Balochistan Public Service Commission, was abducted alongside another official from their official residences in Nushki district, southwest of Quetta. Both individuals were subsequently rescued and moved to safety, a development that particularly impacted the province’s small Christian community.

Context of Insurgency

Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province, shares borders with Afghanistan and Iran and is rich in mineral resources. The region has been experiencing a decades-long insurgency, with ethnic Baloch separatists seeking greater autonomy and a larger share of the province’s natural resources. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), an ethnic-nationalist militant group, is identified by authorities as a primary perpetrator, allegedly operating with support from the Pakistani Taliban, which is allied with Afghanistan’s Taliban.

Last year alone, Balochistan recorded over 250 militant attacks, resulting in more than 400 fatalities, according to local reports, underscoring the persistent security challenges in the region.

Impact on Communities

The recent violence led to widespread fear, with many residents in affected areas, including Quetta, opting to remain indoors for safety. Amar Mansoor Bhatti, a clerk at Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University in Quetta, along with his family, sheltered for over eight hours during the intense firing. Security measures following the attacks, such as the sealing off of cantonment areas, prevented many Catholics from attending Sunday Mass at Quetta’s Holy Rosary Cathedral.

Sharafat Sharif, executive secretary of Caritas in Quetta, highlighted the vulnerability of the Apostolic Vicariate of Quetta, which serves approximately 30,000 Catholics, to both natural disasters and ongoing man-made crises. He noted that schools being closed for winter holidays likely prevented even more severe consequences from the recent attacks.

Challenges for Christians

Christians, who constitute less than one per cent of Balochistan’s 14.9 million population and are predominantly Punjabis, face unique challenges. Dominant ethnic groups in the province often perceive Punjabis as oppressors due to their historical prominence in politics, bureaucracy, military, and business since Pakistan’s independence in 1947.

The community has previously been targeted in acts of violence. In 2021, the Baloch Liberation Army was responsible for the shooting death of Pervaiz Masih, a Christian, whom they accused of being a police spy. Prior to this, in 2017, a Methodist Church in Quetta suffered a suicide attack claimed by the Islamic State (Daesh), killing nine and wounding 57. A Sri Lankan missionary Bishop, Victor Gnanapragasam, narrowly escaped a bomb blast near his residence in 2013.

Calls for Political Solution

Amidst the escalating violence, calls for a political resolution have intensified. Ammar Ali Jan, an academic and political activist, advocated for a political path forward, including the formation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address losses from military operations. “If the country is to be saved from a devastating civil war, a political path must be adopted,” Jan stated, urging that Balochistan be governed with the aspirations of its people in mind rather than solely through a military lens.

Sharafat Sharif of Caritas also emphasised dialogue as the only viable solution to the ongoing conflict. The persistent insecurity has led some residents, like Amar Mansoor Bhatti, to consider relocating their families to safer regions such as Punjab province. Bhatti’s family residence was damaged in a car bomb explosion last September, killing 11 people and injuring dozens, underscoring the continuous threat faced by residents.