Turmoil in Balochistan

Balochistan, Pakistan's largest province, faces a number of destabilizing transnational and domestic security challenges. The Afghan Taliban's leadership council, the Quetta Shura, is alleged to reside in the province. Meanwhile, a nationalist, armed insurgency has been waging guerilla warfare against the Pakistani state since 2005 due, in part, to grievances stemming from Balochistan's impoverished and underdeveloped conditions. Despite the fact that the present government has initiated a comprehensive development and dialogue process in a bid to address Baloch grievances, the insurgency continues its fight.

Very little is understood about the ground realities and the complexities that surround the situation in Balochistan. To what extent does the insurgent movement threaten the stability of the Pakistani state? What are the implications of a protracted insurgency for the Pakistani federation and the region? How do experts see the future of Quetta-Islamabad relations?

On April 15, 2011, USIP hosted a panel discussion which reflected on these questions.

Speakers

• Shazadi Beg
  Barrister
• Ejaz Haider
  Journalist
• Selig Harrison
  Director, Asia Program, Center for International Policy
• Marvin Weinbaum
  Scholar in Residence, Middle East Institute
• Moeed Yusuf, moderator
  South Asia Adviser
  U.S. Institute of Peace

Explore Further

• Watch the event video
• Listen to an audio recording of the event
• Learn more about USIP's work in Pakistan
• USIP Center for Conflict Analysis and Prevention

If you are interested in this event, you may also be interested in the following Academy Courses:

• Governance and Democratic Practices in War to Peace Transitions
  
• Social Reconstruction and Human Security
• Rule of Law Practitioners Course