New Delhi, March 6 (NationPress) A commander affiliated with the Islamic State, Shafiq Mengal, has recently engaged with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and has officially joined the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). This move is particularly intriguing as it indicates that the Islamic State has been enlisted by the Pakistani establishment to counter the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).

Mengal, a tribal leader notorious for leading violent factions against the Baloch populace, is now under scrutiny by Indian intelligence agencies, who believe that his alignment with the PPP is far from a mere political maneuver.

An official has indicated that this strategy serves as a means for the establishment to provide Mengal with political protection, enabling him to execute clandestine operations in collaboration with the army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Mengal is tasked with unifying various terror factions in Balochistan to confront the BLA, overseeing groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad.

These factions are expected to operate cohesively under Mengal's command. Reports suggest that similar tactics might be implemented in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) as well.

Pakistan's security forces are struggling to suppress the BLA, which enjoys significant public support, complicating the establishment's efforts to control the situation.

Mengal will report directly to the leadership of ISI and Military Intelligence, coordinating actions aimed at dismantling the BLA.

The presence of the BLA poses challenges for Pakistan in assuring security to both the United States and China.

Pakistan is currently involved in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project, with Chinese investments suffering due to BLA attacks.

Additionally, Pakistan has inked a minerals agreement with the US, focusing on resources in Balochistan. The BLA argues that such deals do not benefit the local population, as the resources are exploited for the gain of the affluent in mainland Pakistan.

An official from the Intelligence Bureau has revealed that Mengal has already begun operations, planning to transfer numerous Islamic State operatives from Afghanistan and establish safe houses and training centers in Balochistan.

Once these facilities are operational, Pakistan's security forces anticipate a decrease in their direct involvement in combating the BLA, as this consolidated command led by Mengal would assume responsibility.

Analysts express concern over this alarming development, wherein an Islamic State affiliate is now part of a political party that governs Balochistan within a coalition.

With Mengal's political affiliation, he gains legitimacy to conduct various activities in Balochistan, maintaining close ties with President Zardari.

Experts warn that Pakistan has a history of nurturing terrorists, and integrating them into mainstream politics is a troubling trend. If the Balochistan strategy proves successful, it may be replicated in other regions, including KP, where security forces are facing challenges from groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).