The Balochistan Centre of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism (CoE-CVE), Home Department, Government of Balochistan, in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), organized a historic three-day policy dialogue from 28 to 30 January 2026 at the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS), Quetta.

The dialogue aimed to address the root causes of violent extremism through preventive, non-kinetic and inclusive approaches. Renowned politicians, lawyers, experts on extremism, academicians, and representatives of NGOs, media, and think tanks participated, making the dialogue productive and intellectually rich. Raheela Hameed Durrani, Minister for Education, Balochistan, stated that extremism and violence are among the most serious challenges facing Pakistan in general and Balochistan in particular. She emphasized critical role of education, curriculum reform, and institutional coordination in countering extremist narratives. Durrani highlighted initiatives undertaken by provincial government, including resolving financial issues of universities, reopening schools, creating employment opportunities and reducing corruption to weaken drivers of extremism. She stressed that individuals and institutions must act sincerely, prioritize dialogue over violence and work collectively to build a peaceful and resilient society.

The author argued that stability in Balochistan is closely linked........

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