In a recent address to the Balochistan Assembly, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti firmly rejected the notion that militancy in the region is a consequence of underdevelopment, a narrative he described as a 'dangerous rationalization of violence.' Bugti emphasized that 'no individual or group could be allowed to take up arms and kill innocent people under any pretext,' highlighting the state's exclusive right to use force (Pakistan Today, February 11, 2026). This statement comes in the wake of a significant security operation, 'Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-1,' which resulted in the killing of 216 militants following a series of attacks on January 31 that paralyzed several districts (Dawn, February 11, 2026). Bugti criticized the propaganda that creates a divide between the state and Baloch youth, warning that such narratives push them towards a 'futile conflict' that only leads to more bloodshed.