Tahira Khan
Sadly, the country’s security position with the launch of another operation, Khyber-4, seems, in and of itself, distressed and beleaguered enough with various loopholes which requires nothing but proactive and long-term thinking. On one hand militancy is emerging while on the other side radical mindset is taking roots in the societal fabric which has left people both fearful and distrustful.
Amid this noise and chaos, security and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) find ways to bring peace and cooperation in the society along with the hope which enable people to get a sense of relief- although, it, usually, happens for a short time period.
But, what if the LEAs are also in need of security? That situation wouldn’t be termed as anarchy but worse than that which could easily be witnessed in Hobbesian state of nature- at least, theoretically. Same is the case with Pakistan’s largest but violence-torn province, Balochistan.
Given the timeline of such incidents which has aroused suspicions regarding security of the province.
Earlier on Thursday, four policemen were targeted by unidentified assailants which left SP Quetta killed. The incident occurred in Killi Deba where police were on routine patrolling.
The case is assumed to be correlated with another one which happened on the border town of Chamman. It killed District Police Officer (DPO) Qilla Abdullah, his security guard and driver along with other ten people. In addition, five more police personnel were found seriously injured in the respective suicide blast.
Balochistan has already been mired in insurgency and evils of tribalism where this recent target killings of security personnel has been evolved in the most unexpected way.
Perhaps, intellectual stagnation is an unfortunate truth of our society which enables every problem to take refuge in false ego and power seeking affirmation. Same is the fate of police department which is seen as ‘The most corrupt institution’ and every sort of blame lies there. So, before asking for any resolution or comprehensive reforms, as occurred in KP, we start bashing and condemning only.
Our society doesn’t differentiate between religion, politics and morality. In same way, they think that moral opposite isn’t immoral but corruption. Thus, every act is judged and justified on the basis of being moral or corrupt and if it is the case of police department, generalized opinion always goes in favour of the corrupt reputation. This, eventually, has led to the killings as part of daily routine or thing that doesn’t matter. But, it is the same reason which has led the people to be found either in Hobbesian trap or part of Game Theory.
Once we become part of Hobbesian trap, there would be numerous outbreaks and conflicts between people, groups, tribes and societies without any genuine reason. Given the fear of opponents strike, we would risk ourselves by striking pre-emptively. Thus, even if both sides don’t want to indulge in fighting, fear would compelled them to do so. Mutual distrust would be part of our daily life.
The above mentioned assumption seems accurate under the pretext of appearing extremist groups which Balochistan spokesperson, Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, has mentioned days ago.
“New splinter groups are emerging in the province which would be taken to task”, he affirmed.
This sort of opinion is best explained I David Mitrany in ‘A Working Peace System’ which is as under:
“The problem of our time is not how to keep the Nations peacefully apart but how to bring them actively together”.
Yes, this is the very same insecurity which compels tribesman to take refuge under the pretext of his tribe and its strength in order to avail the label. This in turns provides safety to some extent- at least from other tribesmen.
Hit and run case of Majeed Achakzai is, definitely, divided on ethnic lines and it could better provide how tribal system works towards security even if it is immoral or unlawful.
As far as game theory is concerned, it would be played at political level by different political parties. The main drawback of the theory suggests that every entity would be autonomous. And, why shouldn’t it? If the state couldn’t provide security and the citizen arranges this basic need by their selves and then why to obey state laws? Certainly, a fool could do so.
The basic infrastructure of bureaucracy and political temperature illustrates this very basic fact that every political entity try to imposes its will in accordance with the benefits of respective tribes.
Long and short of the story is that insecurity has dismantled the smooth functioning of state machinery in Balochistan where lawlessness has been prevailed with Hobbesian jungle of all against all but in the context of tribalism. At political level, game theory is the only fundamental rule because state inability to provide security has led the powerful independent and sovereign- at least at the provincial level.
Writer is a team member of Balochistan Voices and a Student of BS (Hons) Political Science in University of the Punjab, Lahore. She hails from Loralai District. Click here to read previous articles written by the author.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are those of the author and Balochistan Voices not necessarily agrees with them.
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