What is fuelling violence in Pakistan’s Balochistan province?

Last Thursday, Pakistan’s military announced that it had concluded a week-long operation targeting separatist fighters in Balochistan province. The military action started two days before coordinated attacks by separatists from the Baloch Liberation Army brought the Pakistani province to a standstill, killing dozens of civilians. Pakistan is blaming India for orchestrating the wave of attacks, accusations that New Delhi firmly denies. Meanwhile, China has strongly condemned the attacks and reiterated its commitment to fight terrorism. The province carries strategic importance for Beijing, as it is home to Chinese multi-billion dollar investments, including the deep-sea port of Gwadar. Balochistan also holds most of Pakistan’s mineral wealth, drawing in global powers amid a race for critical minerals. And as Islamabad is actively seeking to reap the benefits of the resource-rich region, the Baloch separatists claim they feel economically marginalised. Guests: Attaullah Tarar Pakistani Information and Broadcasting Minister Ayesha Siddiqa Senior Fellow in War Studies at King's College London Qambar Malik General Secretary of the Baloch Advocacy and Studies Center #Pakistan #Balochistan #theNewsmakers