Baloch Not Targeting Punjabis but Terrorists, Says Balochistan CM Sarfraz Bugti

QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has said that Baloch people are not targeting Punjabis but are fighting against terrorist elements within Pakistan. Addressing participants at the 15th National Workshop Balochistan in Quetta, he emphasized the importance of understanding the province’s historical and ground realities rather than relying on distorted perceptions.
He stated that ignorance of history hinders the understanding of present issues and impedes planning for the future. “To grasp the current situation in Balochistan, knowledge of the past and its historical context is essential,” the Chief Minister remarked.
Bugti pointed out a significant gap between the perception of Balochistan in other parts of the country and the on-ground realities. He cited the example of a limited operation in Kalat that was wrongly projected as a province-wide military action, whereas similar localized operations in Rahim Yar Khan or Lyari were never portrayed as entire provincial crackdowns.
He clarified that the root cause of insurgency in Balochistan is not uneven development alone but lies deeper. “Grievances regarding poor governance or lack of development are valid, but they don’t justify discontent with the state or calls for separation,” he said, referencing Article 5 of the Constitution which mandates unconditional loyalty to the state.
Bugti warned that terrorist groups aim to divide the country and are misleading youth through social media, propaganda, and AI-based tactics. He stressed the responsibility of all citizens in combating this misinformation, especially the poisoning of young minds in educational institutions by hostile forces.
He urged that the fight against terrorism should not be seen as solely the responsibility of the state or military but a collective duty of every Pakistani. “Terrorism, whether based on religion or ethnicity, must be condemned,” he asserted.
The Chief Minister said that elements trying to incite hatred between Baloch and Punjabis are in fact spilling Pakistani blood. “We must confront terrorism with clarity and connection to the facts on the ground, free from confusion,” he stated.
Highlighting governance reforms, Bugti noted merit-based recruitment in the health and education sectors for the first time, ending the previous practice of job sales. He announced the launch of the Benazir Bhutto Scholarship Program, providing access to quality education from matriculation to PhD for underprivileged students.
“Today, even the children of laborers are studying in the same institutions as those from affluent families,” he said. Special scholarships for minorities, children of civilian martyrs, and transgender individuals have also been introduced.
He revealed that the Balochistan government is equipping 30,000 youth with vocational training and facilitating overseas employment opportunities to improve both family livelihoods and national economic growth.