Separatist security threat shutters Balochistan universities

Universities in Pakistan’s volatile Balochistan province have been closed for an indefinite period of time due to the worsening security situation amid armed attacks on security forces by Baloch separatist groups.

Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University, the University of Turbat and the University of Balochistan were reportedly ordered to close on-campus academic activities and shift to online classes amid looming threats of possible attacks on these universities.

The situation is being monitored to decide whether other universities in relatively less vulnerable areas need to be closed. The Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (BUITEMS) has also announced the suspension of in-person classes and has switched to virtual classes.

Threats to universities in Balochistan, Pakistan’s south-western province bordering Afghanistan and Iran, have intensified after separatists of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which claimed responsibility for the attack, hijacked a train last week (11 March) and held hostage over 400 passengers, killing 26 of them, including several security personnel who were on board, before the Pakistan Army launched an operation to free the hostages.

Army spokesman, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, told the media the next day that army commandos killed all 33 terrorists who belonged to the banned BLA.

Pakistan has blamed India and Afghanistan for supporting separatist outfits in the province.

Closure of campuses

According to sources, the closure of the universities was ordered by the provincial government due to the threat of a possible armed attack on universities of the province, especially those in Quetta, the provincial capital.

“This closure was not conveyed through formal letters, but verbal instructions by the provincial authorities were conveyed to the higher management of these universities,” a provincial government official, requesting not to be named, told University World News.

“Several universities in Balochistan, particularly in Quetta, have been ordered to close their on-campus academic activities. These are now transitioning to online or virtual classes to ensure the continuation of education.

“This decision by the authorities aims to protect students and staff from potential threats. There is as yet no clarity when these universities will reopen,” the official said.

However, University of Balochistan Vice-Chancellor Dr Zahoor Ahmed Bazai disputed claims concerning the closure of universities and told Pakistan’s English newspaper Dawn on 18 March: Due to the closure of national highways, students from the province’s remote areas were unable to reach the campuses, because of which the administration decided to begin online classes.”

Fazal Qadir, a member of the Balochistan provincial assembly, told University World News: “The closure of on-campus classes has disrupted the educational process for thousands of students, as there is limited internet connectivity in the remote areas of the province that puts in question the quality and accessibility of online education.” He said the government should have increased security and surveillance instead of closing universities.

Past attacks

In the past there have been many attacks on universities in Pakistan by militant outfits including the Pakistani Taliban.

BLA also claimed to have carried out the suicide attack at the entrance of the Confucius Institute at the University of Karachi on 26 April 2022 that resulted in the deaths of three Chinese teachers and their Pakistani driver.

According to media reports, the security situation will be reviewed after the Eid festival to be observed on 31 March, and a determination will be made about reopening the universities.

Amid the security crisis, educational institutions and sensitive locations across the province have been heavily guarded.

Checkpoints have been set up, and patrolling by the law enforcers has been intensified. Meanwhile Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari visited Quetta this week to address the escalating security situation in Balochistan.