Balochistan is in flames. It is too late to bicker over who kindled the fire. Time is of essence and something has to be done quickly to give a clear message to the Baloch community that they are as integral a part of Pakistan as anyone else and thus as important. Past initiatives to redress the situation have been either half-hearted or ill-meant. The game of fielding one community against another has to be stopped. The PPP’s first government headed by Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto launched a military operation in the province. Benazir Bhutto hardly did anything worth mentioning to resolve the crisis. President Zardari started off well by offering an unconditional apology to the Baloch but failed to regain their sympathies after Nawab Akbar Bugti, a towering leader, was assassinated in a military operation. The PPP’s economic package, Aghaz-e-Haqooq-e-Balochistan turned out to be a mere fig leaf. PLM leader Mian Nawaz Sharif, during a visit to different parts of the province, called for the arrest and trial of former military dictator Pervez Musharraf. Shahzain Bugti, grandson of Akbar Bugti, met him on Friday. They talked at length what should be done and fast. Shahzain discussed measures that he thought were essential to peace and harmony in the troubled province. They also discussed a strategy to deal with foreign elements trying to fish in troubled waters. The Prime Minister must quickly take steps to remove the Baloch grievances.