Former Balochistan CM Nawab Aslam Raisani Calls for Social Contract to Save the Country, Advocates for Dialogue Over Military Operations

Quetta:Former Chief Minister of Balochistan and Chief of Sarawan, Nawab Mohammad Aslam Khan Raisani, has emphasized the urgent need for a social contract to save the country, asserting that the country’s issues can only be resolved through negotiations and dialogue. Speaking to a private news agency, Nawab Raisani called for a new social contract to preserve the federation, urging the military establishment to declare an end to operations and begin talks.

He further stated that the issues of Pashtuns and Baloch people could be resolved through this process, as the tragedy lies in the fact that while the government has the capacity, it lacks the authority to address these problems effectively. Raisani pointed out that various military operations have been carried out in Balochistan since the creation of Pakistan, but instead of resolving the issues, these operations have exacerbated the situation.

The former CM emphasized that the use of force never resolves problems, referencing the example of Afghanistan, which defeated global superpowers through perseverance and dialogue. According to Raisani, the Baloch issue can only be solved through talks, as it is unrealistic to expect that a military operation will end the Baloch’s 77-year-old struggle.

“My heart goes out to the soldiers who have lost their lives in these operations,” said Raisani. “But my deepest sympathy lies with those who are missing. The government claims it doesn’t know where they are. Issues cannot be solved with force; negotiations should be carried out with the people of Balochistan to restore trust,” he added.

He also addressed the issue of missing persons, noting that multiple commissions have been formed to resolve the issue, but none have succeeded. He stressed that before meaningful negotiations with Baloch people can take place, the missing individuals must be found and returned. Only then, he said, could the path be cleared for talks, and the people of the province could be granted their rightful share of power.

Responding to a question about the Balochistan Assembly’s resolution to ban Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Raisani criticized the selective political actions. He pointed out that while the Balochistan Assembly had passed the resolution, the provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, and the federal government had not. Raisani argued that the Balochistan Assembly was unfairly made a scapegoat in this matter.

“The question is, how can one political party impose a ban on another? If this had been done in the federal assembly, it would have made sense, but Balochistan had no part in this decision,” he concluded.

Nawab Aslam Raisani’s remarks highlight the growing concerns in Balochistan about the ongoing military operations and the need for a political solution to the region’s long-standing issues.