Islamabad, Feb 9 (NationPress) Political parties in Pakistan appear to be losing their ability to view significant national matters through a cohesive national lens, which was evident in the recent discussions surrounding Balochistan in both the National Assembly and the Senate, according to a report.

"In this light, the parliamentary discourse on Balochistan showcased a rare form of agreement, yet simultaneously highlighted a lack of self-reflection. Lawmakers from all parties in both the National Assembly and the Senate agreed on two main points: first, the need to address the grievances of the Baloch people, albeit without detailing what those issues entail, and second, that mere condemnations will not suffice to eliminate terrorism," stated security analyst Muhammad Amir Rana in Pakistan's prominent daily, Dawn.

"However, this consensus, viewed through a security-focused lens, was largely superficial. The dialogue ultimately failed to delve into the deeper political and structural factors that have allowed violence to take root in the province," he further noted.

A number of parliamentarians underscored the government's inability to tackle the grievances of the populace, particularly the denial of political rights, economic opportunities, and meaningful participation for Baloch youth.

They emphasized that external hostile actors and violent networks have capitalized on the governance void. Lawmakers raised concerns regarding the effectiveness of counter-smuggling initiatives, questioning how oil continues to flow from border areas to major urban centers despite existing security measures and what concrete steps are being taken to address external interference.

During the session, issues pertaining to Balochistan were also addressed in the resolutions passed by both houses.

However, dissenting opinions, especially those advocating for political engagement and reconciliation, were notably absent from the final agreement. Nevertheless, a few opposition figures, including National Assembly opposition leader Mehmood Achakzai and Senator Jan Buledi, called for political dialogue and reconciliation to tackle the challenges facing Balochistan, as highlighted in the Dawn report.

"These resolutions also demonstrated an alignment with the country’s power elites under the perceived framework of a hard state. While we are not venturing into an academic discussion about the hard state concept, one glaring flaw is apparent in this approach: it becomes overly focused on a limited perspective, analyzing issues through a singular lens and losing the ability to embrace diverse viewpoints, which is foundational to political processes," Rana wrote.

"This mindset is evident at multiple levels, but Balochistan emerges as its primary victim, as the opportunity to resolve the province’s intricate issues through political means has progressively diminished," he continued.

Baloch and Pakhtun nationalist parties, including Akhtar Mengal’s Balochistan National Party (BNP), Abdul Malik’s National Party (NP), and Achakzai’s Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), persist in advocating for political reconciliation. Recently, Sardar Akhtar Mengal has adopted a more hard-line stance to safeguard his political standing. While mainstream political parties such as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have occasionally acknowledged their concerns, they have failed to effectively address the issues plaguing Balochistan, the report noted.