On the heels of the greatest ‘National Misfortune’ that converted ‘East Pakistan’ into ‘Bangladesh’, and without learning the appropriate lessons, another similar major conflict was initiated in 1973 in Balochistan, shortly after (then) Pakistani President Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto repeated a similar mistake as in former East Pakistan and dismissed the elected provincial government of Balochistan on the pretext that arms had been discovered in a foreign embassy, ostensibly for Baloch rebels. The ensuing protest against the dismissal of the duly elected government also led to calls for Balochistan's secession, met by Bhutto ordering the Pakistan Army into the province. Akbar Khan Bugti served as provincial governor during the early stages of the conflict. Fighting was intermittent throughout the conflict, climaxing in 1974 with drawn-out battles. The Bhutto regime was overthrown on 5 July 1977, and martial law was imposed. A general amnesty was declared by the military governor. Military action ended by November 1977, replaced by development and educational policies to conciliate the province, which in fact should have preceded the ultimate choice of military option. Since then, instead of giving primacy to an amicable political solution through true political representation, the bull-headed approach has kept the security situation simmering in Balochistan to date, with Pakistan’s foes adding fuel to the fire. Can we apply the relevant lessons from these debacles to the current political fragmentation in........

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