Balochistan & Pakistan: Strong Conflict Drivers and a Frail Hope for Peace?

The Baloch people who inhabit Balochistan, a crucial area in and of itself, contend that their low living conditions are created by design and that their political or societal demands are intentionally being neglected. There is a pervasive belief among Baloch people that they are the victims of Pakistan's economic drive. The area is home to a very strong tribal culture. Some Baloch groups have been known to resort to violence as a result of many factors including the ones highlighted. But there are other factors and motivations for the fight than just internal politics. One could see Balochistan as a region where the current global energy conflict is being fought out. This region is directly tied to the initiatives that the People's Republic of China finds very important. Nonetheless, numerous states would oppose the success of such initiatives. This raises the possibility that regional unrest, regardless of its root causes, could be used by other states as a tool to further their own foreign policy goals. This study will try to include the historical context of the Baloch uprisings as well as the future implications of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor for the area. It aims to delineate the conflict drivers and how a lasting peace could be built despite them through negotiations and peace-building measures.