The nexus of human security and militarisation : a case study of Balochistan, Pakistan : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Defence and Security Studies at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand. EMBARGOED until 31 October 2028.

Abstract

This research explores the nexus of human security and militarisation by taking natural resource rich Balochistan in Pakistan as a case study. The literature has often found that natural-resource-rich regions in developing countries have the highest levels of human security challenges. External and domestic actors converge to form structures that exploit these regions, marginalise the local population and have encouraged the local people to armed resistance. However, the literature ignores the fact that each region should be investigated to understand its own contextual and historical factors to address these challenges, which is the focus of this thesis. The concept of “political security” within the construct of human security serves a theoretical framework in this research to investigate the factors that promote or demote militarisation and human security challenges. Political security as a concept provides a comprehensive approach that is especially relevant in the context of Balochistan’s vulnerability in the geopolitical and geoeconomic sense. This research extends the boundaries of political security in three dimensions. Political autonomy security explores the role of constitutional, administrative, and financial rights within the formal and informal governance structure of the state. Political identity security explores the socio-cultural norms of the indigenous ethnic population in analysing the historical, domestic, and external factors that may impact political processes in a positive or negative way. Political interest security explores the role of national, provincial, and local politicians/parties; tribal leaders; and social movements in advocating political, social, and economic security. This research adopted a qualitative approach by taking Balochistan and one of its cities, Gwadar, as a case study. Balochistan’s geopolitical and geoeconomic significance, rich in natural resources and its lower human security indicators are the reasons for taking it as a case study. Gwadar was taken as a sub-case study because of its importance in China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. The research conducted 25 semi-structured in-depth interviews with people in six different groups, including bureaucrats, politicians, academics, tribal leaders, judiciary, and commerce. By using the process tracing method, which traces an event through its cause-and-effect relationships, the research conducted a historical analysis, constitutional analysis, and a policy document analysis to complement the primary data. To understand political autonomy security, this research aimed to analyse how the politics of centralisation and decentralisation in Pakistan’s constitutions have impacted political security in Balochistan. The research found that political autonomy security is compromised because of Balochistan’s location and its associated geopolitical and geoeconomic vulnerability in the colonial and post-colonial eras. Therefore, Balochistan has always been run by a centralised governance system. Through delays in the constitution making and getting the status of a province, Balochistan experienced a controlled political process historically, increasing the role of the military to establish control and eventually leading to the lower human and financial resource capacity of its provincial and local governments. The government and militants both use political, financial, and social narratives to advance their perspective. After the 18th Amendment of the constitution in 2010, Balochistan received more financial and institutional autonomy. However, because of a lack of human resources at the provincial level and a lack of devolution of power to the local government level, human security issues have not been improved. To understand political identity security, this research aimed to analyse how Balochistan’s ethnic groups are recognised in the multiethnic post-colonial state. The research found a trust deficit between Balochistan and the central government which compromises the identity of the indigenous population. This trust deficit has developed a fear of demographic changes, as evident in Gwadar as a result of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. The identity of the ethnic groups tied to the territory is considered a matter of grace and honour explaining their historical roots, cultural, and social norms, which has been ignored. Therefore, this research emphasised acknowledging Balochistan’s political identity in conceptualising political security that recognises the indigenous people’s sense of ownership over their land. This conceptualisation helps develop human security and discourage militarisation. To understand political interest security, this research aimed to analyse the role and impact of tribalism and interest groups on political security. The research found that the political groups and parties at the national and provincial level made alliances with the governments and the military to achieve their mutual political and financial objectives, making a way for this nexus to impact the domestic politics of Balochistan. The research shows that this nexus existed in both colonial and post-colonial Balochistan. However, this nexus and a policy of strict control have negatively impacted the development of individuals’ human security and have led to the marginalisation of Baloch. The research shows that Gwadar exhibits a new dimension of Balochistan’s politics, where the political interest is widely based on challenges to city’s development and local issues. The emergence of social movements in Gwadar have shaped contemporary politics and narratives. This thesis concluded that these three dimensions of political security are fundamental to understand and promote to realise human security challenges in Balochistan. These three dimensions of political security are complex and tightly interlinked but addressing these dimensions will help the country to counter the external and internal challenges entrenching marginalisation and promoting militarisation in Balochistan. This thesis contributes to knowledge of political security in analysing post-colonial multiethnic states by exploring the perspective of indigenous people. The research identifies gaps in top-down policies in Balochistan which need to be addressed systematically through a political security lens.