DID Press: Mushahid Hussain Syed, former senior senator and former chairman of the Senate Defence Committee, reacted to the recent attacks by Baloch separatists in Balochistan and the growing Israeli interest in the region, emphasizing that the timing of these attacks is significant and concerning. He stressed that these events should not be considered just another routine security incident.
In his remarks, Syed highlighted three key reasons why the timing of these attacks is particularly important.
The first factor, according to him, is the regional geopolitical changes. Syed referenced a claim about Israel’s focus on Balochistan, suggesting that Israel is encouraging Donald Trump to attack Iran, which shares a border with Balochistan that spans over 900 kilometers, with the goal of regime change and eventual division, similar to the situations in Sudan, Somalia, and Libya.
The second reason is the strategic significance of Gwadar Port. Syed noted that Gwadar, as the central hub of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is on the verge of playing a larger role in regional connectivity.
The third factor involves Pakistan’s ambitions to position itself as a key player in the domain of critical minerals. Syed pointed out that most of Pakistan’s critical mineral reserves are located in Balochistan, attracting significant international attention.
Syed concluded his remarks with a warning for Pakistan’s policymakers, saying: “The bold actions of today’s terrorists in Balochistan should be a wake-up call for the policymakers of Pakistan. The continued policy of ‘status quo’ will no longer work, and immediate reforms in Balochistan’s policy are inevitable.”