Opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai on Monday delivered a hard-hitting speech in the National Assembly, declaring Balochistan a “blind spot” for Pakistan and urging lawmakers to confront historical truths and pursue political dialogue to resolve the province’s long-standing crisis.
Addressing the speaker, Achakzai said the distance between you and me should be reduced, stressing that the House must be strengthened to address grievances that have fuelled unrest in Balochistan for decades.
He traced the roots of the issue back to history, referring to the Gandamak Agreement under which areas of present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan were separated from Afghanistan. He also recalled that in 1970, Baloch and Pashtuns were administratively brought together in Balochistan, highlighting the province’s complex ethnic and political makeup. “Pashtuns are fifty percent of Balochistan,” he said, noting that disagreements over representation and rights have persisted for years.
Achakzai lamented the deprivation in resource-rich areas, pointing out that while Sui gas is supplied across Pakistan, local women in the region still cook by burning wood. “You assured the Baloch that they have rights over their resources,” he reminded the House, adding that mere slogans of “Long Live Pakistan” would not solve the country’s structural issues.
He warned that the situation in Balochistan has deteriorated to the point where “armed people are on every hill and no one stops anyone,” alleging that people openly provide financial support to the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) through banks in Quetta. He questioned how individuals could move freely across multiple districts without being detected and asked why intelligence agencies failed to anticipate recent incidents.
“If all this happened intentionally, then it was a great injustice,” he remarked, referring to recent events without elaboration.
Calling for historical honesty, Achakzai said, “We should not distort history. Who supported the Taliban? We supported and trained the Taliban ourselves.” He added that former military ruler Zia-ul-Haq had referred to the Taliban as freedom fighters and alleged that militants were trained in tactics that later destabilized the region.
Achakzai emphasized that there is a political solution to Balochistan’s problems and urged dialogue, including engagement with Afghanistan. “Hostilities are not permanent. Come, sit down and save Pakistan,” he appealed.
He also touched on the health of the jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, urging the government to send doctors, including his personal physician, for a medical examination and said he would write to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in this regard.
During the speech, the Speaker of the National Assembly ordered parts of Achakzai’s remarks concerning intelligence agencies to be expunged from the record.
