Why is Quetta under attack?

When I met Dr Abdul Malik, former chief minister, Balochistan, last week in Karachi, he was quite concerned over the rising influence of Afghans, particularly in Quetta city, and feared that the provincial capital of Balochistan, has fallen to Afghans and opposed census on the same ground. 

"Quetta is no more a city of the Baloch or Pashtoon. It has now been occupied by the Afghans and we are a minority," he told me as he backed Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak that we must get rid of Afghans, sooner the better. 

The law and order situation has improved but unless civil and military leadership make major policy decision, it can go from bad to worse, he added. What happened in Quetta Monday, once again reminds that despite major operation in Balochistan, 'all is not well," and the suicide attack on lawyers community in which two cameramen of Aaj and Dawn news channels were also killed is a 'wake-up' call, for the civil and military leadership, as it once again reminded of the presence of terror networks and their sleeper cells. 

While it is still premature to say who could possibly be behind this most brutal attack on lawyers, media and common men in Quetta, army chief General Raheel Sharif's statement is of most significance. "It was an attack on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, CPEC," he said in Quetta. What is more significant is the fact that lawyers and journalists, two important pillars of civil society become the major victims. Why army chief's assessment and statement is of such a significance? It should be seen in the backdrop of his recent visit to China, during which he had met Chinese civil and military leadership and assured security of the CPEC. 

So, the chief knows importance and significance of this blast and has given specific orders, not only to crack down the groups behind the attack but also ensure safety and security of the city and the province. 

It certainly indicates the difficulties on the way to ensuring protection of CPEC. Pakistan has to face stiff challenges ahead and it would not be easy. China also knows the significance of this "corridor" and safety challenges faced with Pakistan. For the first time, it has also become an important player in Afghanistan and was part of the four-nation negotiations with Afghan Taliban, ever since the first round of talks were held in Murree. 

In the past, China did not become an active player in resolving Pakistan-Afghanistan and Taliban relations. It has also opened door for negotiations with the Taliban and is also playing its role in seeking the release of Pakistani retired army officers and a Russian who were held hostage after Punjab government helicopter made a crash landing in the Taliban controlled area in Afghanistan. 

Therefore, China must be concerned over this recent attack in Quetta, particularly in the city, which has its significance because of CPEC. But it was not only an attack on CPEC, but also an attack on Pakistan's future, an attack on civil society, as most of those killed were lawyers and media persons besides paramedical staff of the hospital. 

It was gruesome as the terrorist picked hospital for the suicide attack, in a bid to cause more miseries to common people. In the last two months, there have been constant attacks on the police and paramilitary forces. But, after quite some time the attackers have targeted the professionals like lawyers and media, besides common men. 

Pakistan's civil and military leadership is well aware of the challenges ahead and has to take some of the most drastic steps to prevent such attacks in future, not only in Balochistan but also in other parts of the country.

Balochistan has its own significance, not only because of CPEC but also due to the developing port in Gawadar. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif recently termed it one of the best ports in the world and CPEC the future of Pakistan. 

Therefore, when the army chief said, "Quetta attack is an attack on CPEC," he clearly indicated the possible involvement of a foreign hand and has already ordered a targeted operation. Following the arrest of a serving Indian Naval officer, Kulbushan Yadev and the killing of Taliban Ameer Mullah Mansoor in a drone attack near Iranian border, had alerted the security agencies of the possible infiltration in Balochistan.

There had been sectarian killings In the past, but the situation improved later when the security agencies claimed success against mini-insurgency by Baloch separatist groups. Although no one has claimed responsibility of Monday's attack, the pattern of the attack indicates the possible involvement of an outlawed extremist groups, some of whom have alleged links with RAW. 

While the massive operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan and its adjacent areas are likely to complete by end of the year, it appears that Balochistan has become "hotbed of terrorists," belonging to separatist and extremist groups linked with International terror networks like al-Qaeda and Taliban. Situation in the province got worse after killing of Mullah Mansoor in a drone attack while he was allegedly coming from Iran. 

If children were the prime target in the attack on Army Public School, Peshawar on December 16, 2014, lawyers and journalists came under attack Monday. It was one of the worst attacks on lawyers in recent years and it came a month after the kidnapping and recovery of the son of the Chief Justice of Sindh High Court. 

Therefore, Pakistan political leadership including government, opposition and military leadership have to rise to the occasion to counter yet another attack on its civilians and on Pakistan's future economic order. 

The attack is once again a reminder of government responsibility to enforce with full force its National Action Plan, its 22 points or to revive the same plan in order to get rid of rising extremism and challenges ahead in the wake of fast pace of CPEC. Action must speak louder than the voice of concern. If on the one hand Balochistan needs a political solution to long standing problems faced by its people, it must be free of all kinds of terror networks, before it become another North Waziristan. 

The writer is a senior columnist and analyst of Geo, The News and Jang.