In recent years, the debate around strict security checking in Balochistan has intensified. On one hand, law enforcement agencies, including the Frontier Corps (FC), have increased security measures. On the other, groups such as the Baloch Yakjehti Committee and Gwadar-based MPA Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman have repeatedly criticized and protested against these checks.
However, an important question remains largely ignored: why is strict checking necessary in certain districts of Balochistan?
The Reality Behind Security Measures
Ground realities suggest that these measures are not arbitrary. In multiple instances, terrorist elements have exploited protests and road blockades to their advantage. Blocking highways and setting up roadblocks does not just disrupt daily life—it creates operational space for militants.
Such situations allow terrorists affiliated with the BLA (Balochistan Liberation Army) to move under the cover of protests and gain access to civilian areas more easily.
The Jiwani Attack: A Turning Point
The attack on April 12 in the coastal town of Jiwani, Gwadar, is a critical example. Terrorists used fishermen’s boats as shields to target a Coast Guards patrolling vessel, resulting in the martyrdom of three personnel.
This incident marked a dangerous shift. For the first time, militants embedded themselves among local fishermen—people whose livelihoods depend entirely on the sea—and used ordinary boats to carry out a coordinated ambush.
Jiwani’s population is heavily dependent on fishing, with nearly 80–90% of residents earning their living through this profession. By infiltrating this community, the BLA has effectively put thousands of livelihoods at risk.
When Civilians Are Used as Shields
When terrorists use civilian resources—such as fishing boats—for attacks, security forces, including the Coast Guards and Navy, are left with no choice but to treat every vessel with suspicion.
As a result, fishermen now face stricter checks when going out to sea and returning. While this creates inconvenience, it is a direct consequence of militant tactics.
Turning civilian tools into instruments of terrorism inevitably leads to economic hardship and unemployment.Security forces are responsible for the protection of locals from these terrorists, they will take action and do everything to protect local population.
Misuse of Protests in Past Attacks
A similar pattern was observed during the January 31 attacks, where militants reportedly took advantage of protest activities, blended into civilian populations, and carried out coordinated attacks across multiple districts.
In those operations, 216 terrorists were killed.
Notably, there was no significant protest or condemnation from Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman regarding these incidents.
The Ongoing Security Challenge
At present, at least five districts in Balochistan remain actively affected by terrorism. The FC, police, and other law enforcement agencies continue to operate under challenging conditions to eliminate militant threats.
In this context, stricter checking at checkpoints and an increase in intelligence-based operations by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) are expected to intensify further.
Who Is Responsible?
The responsibility for this situation ultimately lies with terrorist groups and their facilitators. These elements do not want stability or development in Balochistan, as instability helps sustain their narrative that the province is neglected and deprived of resources.
This narrative persists despite the fact that numerous development projects are underway across the province.
Unfortunately, some circles—often unaware of the ground realities—end up amplifying these narratives.
The real enemies of the people of Balochistan are not the security forces enforcing checks, but the terrorist elements and their facilitators who exploit civilians, disrupt livelihoods, and obstruct progress.
Strict security checking, therefore, is not a matter of choice—it is a necessity imposed by the evolving tactics of militancy.
