Pakistan, Oct. 4 -- The solution to Baluchistan's problems is not in the gun. It is not violent. It lies in dialogue with the state. This is the core message of Gulzar Imam Shambay, a former militant commander who abandoned the path of insurgency and urged others to do the same. His words deserve serious attention from anyone who claims to care about Baluchistan's future.

The ongoing insurgency in the province has been sustained not just by weapons or external support but by a carefully constructed narrative. This narrative convinces ordinary people that justice, prosperity, and dignity are impossible within the federation, and that rights can only be claimed through rebellion. For decades, this rhetoric has been the lifeline of militant...