Why is the Pakistani army struggling in Balochistan?

The situation in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province appears to be spiraling out of control once again. The large-scale and coordinated attacks that took place simultaneously in 12 cities of Balochistan on Saturday not only exposed the weaknesses of the Pakistani security system but also raised serious questions about the army's preparedness. These attacks targeted major military bases, police checkpoints, paramilitary bases, and civilian areas.

Significantly, female fighters were also involved alongside suicide bombers, further increasing the concerns of security agencies. Now, Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif himself has admitted in Parliament that the geographical location of Balochistan, the plundering of resources, and internal alliances have made the situation extremely difficult for the army.

Geography is the biggest challenge

Speaking in the National Assembly on Monday, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said that Balochistan comprises more than 40 percent of Pakistan's total land area, but the population is very sparse. According to him, there is only one person per 35 square kilometers. Controlling such an area is extremely difficult. He acknowledged that the army is already present, but a larger deployment is needed to manage the situation.

Billions earned daily from oil smuggling

According to the Defense Minister, networks involved in oil smuggling are earning approximately 4 billion rupees daily. This money is being used to buy weapons and spread terror. He explained that transit goods destined for Afghanistan are brought back into Pakistan and sold. When the government cracked down on this, large-scale protests erupted in several areas, including the Chaman border.

177 Terrorists Killed in Two Days

The Defense Minister stated that security forces killed 177 terrorists in the last two days, but 16 soldiers and 33 civilians were also killed during this period. He also alleged that the issue of human rights and missing persons is merely a narrative, while many people in this network are living lavishly in Dubai and Muscat.