ONE of the worst escalations in Balochistan’s long-running insurgency has occurred over the past week. Between July 4 and 8, coordinated attacks across the province claimed the lives of 42 civilians and security personnel. The brutality was staggering: 18 abducted police officers executed, 11 soldiers ambushed on the N-25 highway and nine policemen martyred in Ziarat. Security forces responded by eliminating 54 militants, with the toll later rising to 75. Yet these numbers tell only part of a far more troubling story.

Pakistan’s security challenges are not confined to Balochistan. Cross-border infiltration persists along the western border, the eastern frontier remains a conventional concern and sectarian networks continue to mobilize. This diffusion of effort is not sustainable. When Balochistan accounts for nearly 44 percent of Pakistan’s landmass, possesses enormous mineral wealth, hosts Gwadar Port, the centrepiece of CPEC and borders both Afghanistan and Iran, instability here carries consequences that extend far beyond internal security. Pakistan must treat Balochistan not as one among many problems, but as the primary existential challenge requiring immediate attention.

The deterioration has been alarming. The frequency of attacks has increased, but so has their sophistication. External factors are clearly at play. Pakistan’s military leadership has presented evidence that India provides financial and logistical support to the........

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