Violence in Balochistan rages on as Pakistan rules out talks with insurgents

Fears of violence worsening across Pakistan’s Balochistan are mounting following armed attacks across the mineral-rich province over several days, as insurgents continue to exploit grievances on the ground and Islamabad’s security forces struggle to deal with the threat.Pakistan has ruled out talks with insurgents who seized control of security installations and administrative centres in more than a dozen urban centres in Balochistan during a lightning coordinated operation on Saturday.A total of 197 insurgents, 36 civilians and at least 22 security personnel have been killed in the attacks, as fighting continued up to Tuesday. Officials said the attacks were the largest and most lethal since unrest erupted in the province in 2004.Addressing the National Assembly on Monday, Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammed Asif said “nobody in Pakistan will be allowed to rationalise violence”.“When you try to rationalise violence or dress it up as a freedom movement, it is not acceptable because it is not true. This is a cover to legitimise criminal activities,” he said.Acknowledging Balochistan’s people had “some grievances”, Asif said these were founded on “nationalistic fervour”.