Farooq Hameed Khan General Kayanis recent inauguration of the Education City in Sui reflects another confidence building measure by the Army to remove the sense of deprivation amongst the Baloch by providing quality education to the tribal youth in Sui and Dera Bugti. More significant is the Armys move to replace its combat troops in Sui Cantonment with Frontier Corps Wings for the security of local installations, as was done earlier in case of the Kohlu Brigade so as to give peace a real chance. The Sui Education City will lead to new opportunities for the development and prosperity in remote areas of Balochistan, a province where 58 percent of the population lives below the poverty line and has a literacy rate of only 34 percent compared to a national average of 54 percent. Presently around 23000 Baloch students are studying in the educational institutions run by the Army and Frontier Corps; over 4000 young Baloch are benefiting from Chamlang Beneficiary Education Programme and around 700 Baloch youth are studying in reputed institutions of other provinces. In this context the decision of the Punjab Chief Minister to wholeheartedly open universities and colleges of Punjab to Baloch students is also laudable. To enhance technical skills of the Baloch youth for better job opportunities, the Balochistan Institute of Technical Education (BITE) managed by Army in Quetta, has so far trained 1700 students in various technical trades and disciplines. The Gwadar Institute of Technical Education is also likely to be functional in near future. To enable the Baloch youth to contribute to national defence, the government has more than doubled the quota of military recruitment from Balochistan, which has resulted in the induction of around 3350 young men from Balochistan in Pakistan Army. Such steps will help promote national integration as well as bring the Balochis in the mainstream like other provinces. Unfortunately, the security situation continues to deteriorate in the province, with an upsurge in abductions, target killings of non-Baloch settlers and educationists, Baloch nationalist leaders and sectarian attacks. Even the Governor and Chief Minister of the province were targeted last December, which reflects a serious weakening of the provincial governments writ and its failure to ensure law and order. The year 2011 has witnessed series of sabotage actions involving blowing up of gas pipelines and gas wells in Sui at a scale that reminds us of the insurgent attacks in the Musharraf era. Keeping in view critical importance of the Sui gas installation to both the provincial and national economies, this national asset cannot be left at the mercy of insurgents. While a military operation is least desirable in the prevailing circumstances, the government agencies, including Frontier Corps, must work in coordination with the Bugti tribe to enhance security of the gas wells and not spare the saboteurs. Surprisingly the Sui attacks came in the aftermath of the arrest of Shahzain Bugti and his tribesmen and the mysterious recovery of weapons from his escorting vehicles. As a senior leader of Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP), Shahzain, who claims to be the rightful heir to the late Nawab Akbar Bugti as chief of Bugti tribe, plans a long march to Dera Bugti in end January. Hopefully, he will not become part of the great game in Balochistan and also not allow the insurgents to exploit the explosive situation to their advantage. While the Armys large scale welfare and educational initiatives in the province are likely to bear fruit in the long run, substantive change on ground will only be possible through a holistic political dialogue with the traditionally hostile Marris, Mengals and other nationalist political leaders. Unfortunately, there are no signs of any such dialogue either by the provincial or federal leadership. The PPP led Balochistan leadership and their MPAs in the Assembly that represent various tribes and religious and ethnic groups in the province have not contributed towards political reconciliation to control violence in the province. Do they, therefore, deserve to continue enjoying their hefty perks and privileges? Surprisingly, it was a Marri tribal chief who had reportedly suggested that General Kayani should initiate the peace dialogue which shows the Army Chiefs credibility in the eyes of the Baloch people for his sincerity towards progress and development of the province. If major political forces could generate consensus on critical issues related to provincial autonomy through the NFC award, the 18th Amendment and Aghaz- Haqooq-e Balochistan package, then finding a lasting political solution to Balochistan crisis should not be difficult, provided the countrys leadership accord it their top priority. Sadly, the Balochistan package that institutionalises political and administrative reforms and provides an economic stimulus is not visible at the level that could isolate and marginalise the minority separatist elements. In this respect, the head of all major political parties within and outside Parliament must collectively hold a national dialogue with the angry Baloch veterans without wasting further time. The inclusion of General Kayani in this dialogue would lend added credibility to the peace process as well as guarantee a long-term resolution of the Balochistan conflict. Since US Vice President Joe Biden has, during his recent visit, reportedly accepted Pakistans case about foreign interference from across Afghanistan into Balochistan, the US and NATO must take practical steps to stop the training and arming of the misguided Baloch youth by the Indians on Afghan soil. Failure to do so would confirm Indo-US collusion to destabilise Balochistan. Dissident Baloch leaders, too, need to show flexibility, give up the path of confrontation and sit on the dialogue table. They must follow the democratic process and work for the betterment of the Baloch people and stop the ongoing bloodshed in their province. If the foreign sponsored and backed insurgency is to be comprehensively defeated and peace restored in Balochistan, then a multi pronged strategy is the need of the hour. A political dialogue supported by fast track implementation of the Balochistan economic package, addressing Baloch grievances on human rights, giving them a greater say in the development of the provinces mineral resources, general amnesty for militants who renounce violence and greater Baloch representation in federal institutions are some steps that would help reduce the trust deficit, honour the Baloch and normalise conditions in Balochistan. The writer is a retired Brigadier Email:fhkhan54@gmail.com