Tackling Balochistan’s problems July 8, 2021 It is heartening to see that the prime minister is trying to heal the wounds of the largest province by offering mega projects and development schemes. What is more positive is the possibility of talks with Baloch insurgents. It is not the first insurgency that has plagued the province; the largest federating entity revolted against rule of the center in the past as well. Much of this was caused by the imprudent policies of rulers of all shades who resorted to sledgehammer tactics to sort out a political issue that could have been solved through dialogue. The 1950s witnessed the resentment of Baloch politicians against the center. Such resentment could have been addressed by coming up with a formula that guaranteed provincial rights but the sense of deprivation of the Baloch was ignored during the 1960s, and the province witnessed one of the longest tensions with Islamabad during the time of Z A Bhutto. Baloch leaders were jailed and all those who spoke against the fascist tactics of the Bhutto regime had to face the wrath of the populist leader who could not get rid of his feudal attitude despite his tall claims of serving the downtrodden.