Sarfraz Bugti, the chief minister of Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan, stated on Saturday that the government will not engage in negotiations with insurgent groups. His announcement underscores a firm commitment to ongoing security operations that have already resulted in the deaths of hundreds of militants in recent months.
Addressing the security situation, Bugti emphasized that the fight against terrorism in the region will persist until the last militant is eliminated. He specifically ruled out any possibility of dialogue with those who have taken up arms against the Pakistani state or those advocating for the country's disintegration. The chief minister characterized the current situation as a state of war, noting that while authorities have never claimed the region was entirely normal, security forces are operating under extremely difficult conditions with full institutional coordination.
The province of Balochistan, while the largest in Pakistan, remains the least populated and has long been the site of a separatist insurgency. Ethnic Baloch groups frequently target both security personnel and civilians employed in regional development projects. Recent tensions have been exacerbated by increased activity from the Baloch Liberation Army, an organization designated as a foreign terrorist entity by the United States. Notably, in 2025, the group was responsible for an attack that killed 18 paramilitary security forces.
Despite periodic calls from regional activists and political parties for a peaceful dialogue, the government maintains that leniency is reserved only for militants who choose to surrender. Local officials have held ceremonies to welcome those who lay down their weapons. However, the Baloch Liberation Army has shown no interest in pursuing talks, and no representative for the group was available for comment. The government's stance remains focused on what Bugti described as a necessary “major surgery” to restore order.
Some Balochis have complained about discrimination by the government.
There are also deep grievances about enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and the exploitation of the abundant natural resources.Several regional political parties and activists have called in recent years for dialogue with insurgent groups, but BLA and other Baloch groups have not sought talks.
