HISTORY has a peculiar way of repeating itself. More than a century after the original Great Game saw empires compete for influence across Central Asia, a new contest is quietly unfolding in our region.
This time, the rivalry is not fought solely through armies or territorial conquest, but through economic corridors, strategic partnerships, intelligence operations, and proxy conflicts. At the centre of this evolving landscape lies Balochistan.
The recent wave of violence across the province reflects the convergence of two realities. On the one hand are decadesold challenges of governance, politicalexclusion, uneven development and public distrust. On the other hand are the strategic interests of regional powers in a province that has become increasingly important because of Gwadar Port, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and its location at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East.
In today’s geopolitical environment, direct wars between nuclear-armed states are both costly and risl(y. Competition has, therefore, shifted towards indirect methods, including intelligence activities, proxy networl(s, cyber operations, economic leverage and disinformation campaigns.
Fragile regions often become the arenas where these rivalries get played out. While external involvement in Balochistan cannotbe ruled out, few would dispute the fact that internal vulnerabilities make any state more susceptible to outside influence.
This is why Pal(istan’s response must go beyond counterterrorism.
Military operations are necessary to protect citizens and maintain order, but they cannot substitutefor political legitimacy, accountable governance, equitable development and meaningful public participation. Security built solely on force is rarely sustainable. Security rooted in trust between the state and its citizens is far more enduring.
The return of the Great Game is not just about competing powers. It is also about whether or not states can strengthen themselves from within. For Pal(istan, the future of Balochistan will be determined as much by good governance as by strategic policy. Only by addressing both can the province become a bridge for regional connectivity rather than a battleground.
Shahzadi Mahnoor Abbottabad