The government imposed on Balochistan’s political landscape seems to have assumed that all the problems here can be solved through communication blackouts and the enforcement of Section 144. Since 6 November, the government has imposed Section 144 across the entire Balochistan for 30 days, banning rallies, demonstrations, sit-ins, and gatherings of more than five people. The railway service had already been suspended, and now the Transport Authority has halted public transport from 12 to 14 November as well. Citing security concerns, the government has also shut down internet services in more than thirty districts of Balochistan.
The controversial Chief Minister, Sarfraz Bugti, repeatedly claims that the state’s writ has been restored in Balochistan and that the major highways are now secure. However, by imposing such curfew-like restrictions, the government appears to be attempting to conceal its own administrative and political failures. By restricting access to basic necessities, it is inflicting further hardship on the people of Balochistan, whose daily lives, businesses, and education have been severely affected. These actions, rather than weakening pro-independence groups, merely increase the suffering of the civilian population.
Armed organisations fighting for independence have intensified their operations across Balochistan. These groups continue to impose blockades on the highways linking Balochistan to Sindh, Punjab, and Iran. Deadly attacks on Pakistani military forces have increased, and the failure of international projects in Balochistan has become increasingly apparent. In such grave circumstances, the claims made by the government and its officials stand in stark contrast to the realities on the ground.
Military activity typically escalates across Balochistan during days significant to the pro-independence movement. However, government measures that paralyse ordinary life cannot be expected to bring about any improvement in the situation. The same approach was adopted in August—through internet shutdowns and the enforcement of Section 144—yet it produced no visible impact on the actions of pro-independence groups. The intensity of the Baloch national resistance continues to grow, and such superficial measures will never succeed in cooling the heat of this ongoing conflict.