The COAS's Doctrine: "3D Balochistan Strategy" evolving?

 


Gen Sarfaraz Ali, Commander Southern Command 

What is the COAS's "3D Balochistan Strategy" for and how its is evolving? 


The Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa's "Balochistan 3Ds Doctrine '' is like this: Detternace, Development and Dialogue which has informed the strategy on Balochistan till recently.




Jan Achakzai 


The Commander Southern Command, Let Gen Sarfaraz Ali, has for the first time started to amend the kinetic to non- kinetic approach towards law and order in Balochistan. He being an experienced hand on Balochistan–served as IG FC South and MI Chief,  besides at Command Staff College Quetta and now as Commander, Southern Command–knows when to change the gear. 


He has started to work on the non-kinetic aspect of counter insurgency, ie, development and provision of jobs in violence infested districts in Balochistan in order to stem the tide of recruitment for extremists. 


Gen Sarfarz Ali is also seeking to reconnect with people to win hearts and minds, and to boost the morale and capacity of civilian law and enforcement agencies including the  police and the levies. 


However, a grand  non-kinetic conflict resolution strategy has to be in place to supplement his efforts as suggested here by INH


As the Army has strengthend the borders security of Balochistan–ie fenced border with Afghanistan and started to put fence along Iran-Balochistan border–the immediate  challenge is the prospect of terrorism spill over from Afghanistan in a  post US withdrawal scenario. Terrorism both Baloch sub Nationalists and the proxy TTP can grow before it ebs towards the beginning of 2021 but of course its a very optimistic senario. 


In the meantime, the policy makers need to integrate the downgraded elements into the mainstream using a "top down" approach.


The Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa's "Balochistan 3Ds Doctrine '' is like this: Deterrence, Development and Dialogue, which has informed the strategy on Balochistan till recently. Now is the time to re-align the three Ds by restating the order: Deterrence, Dialogue and Development, instead of Dialogue as a last priority. 

It is a welcome omen that Gen Sarfaraz Ali is improvising strategy as and when the ground reality evolves but it has to go far. 

 

Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Afghanistan–Pakistani terrorists sanctuary to keep Balochistan on the boil

Image
Who is behind the attacks on forces in Balochistan?   By Jalal Noorzai   Inside Balochistan, there has been an increase in attacks on forces in the last one month. After October 8, 2001, when the Taliban regime in Afghanistan was overthrown, there were obvious incidents of insurgency, bombings, kidnappings for ransom and targeted killings in Balochistan. After the US occupation of Afghanistan and Indian hegemony, Balochistan became a haven for ethnic Baloch terrorist organizations.   Afghanistan safe haven for Pakistani terrorists  Afghanistan has also become a safe haven for these religious organizations since Operation Zarb-e-Azb, which began in June 2014 against the TTP and others in the former FATA. Even Syed Asghar Shah, head of Sindh's banned Sindh separatist organization, the Sindh Revolutionary Army, is based in Kandahar. The banned SRR is also involved in an alliance with other banned Baloch armed groups, the Baloch Liberation Front, the Baloch Liberation Army, the Balo
Read more

To comply with FATF, crackdown at Pak-Iran border against smuggling

Image
To comply with FATF, crackdown crackdown at Pak-Iran border against smuggling  The FC local leadership believe that not only smuggling of oil but also weapons being sent across Balochistan has undermined the security of the province Jan Achakzai  Many stories in the media have been circulating about smuggling at the Pakistan-Iran border region. Smuggling is a a thriving  market sustained for years but now the government with the help of federal law enforcing agencies and FC has cracked down on this illicit trade.  This scribe reveals that in order to come off FATF  greylist by meeting its remaining three conditions including money laundering and terrorism financing and currency smuggling, the crackdown is Pakistan's commitment to comply with the FATF requirement. The the money thus obtained via smuggling may end up  fuelling terrorism.  The government has  clamped down hard on fuel smuggling on Iranian border and now   Baloch sub -nationalists parties like BNP have asked the federa
Read more