EDITORIAL
Internet: Balochistan's erstwhile insurgency hit districts enter into a new era.
PT restores interest and plans to improve 3, 4 G access.
Balochistan is linked with the information highway by restoration of the internet. The internet access was suspended in many districts due to security concerns as there was a fear that terrorists might use them.
These districts were mainly considered militancy infested in the South of Balochistan. According to PTA press release, the areas include: Turbat city, Kech, Awaran, Panjgur, Washuk and Kalat along the highways i.e. RCDH, N-30, N-85 and Awaran-Bela Road.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has said that "after reviewing the security situation by concerned departments the instructions have been issued to telecom operators for restoration of internet services in certain districts of Balochistan".
The PTA said the step has been taken in pursuance of the government’s vision of providing internet services across the country.
Youth brainwashed?
With respect to the net usage Covid-19 has multiplied reliance on the internet as a means of education and boosted opportunity for trade and home based services.
But the virtual world brings in new challenges to the youth of Balochistan as it subjects them to the consumption of all sorts of information, propaganda and influences. They hardly make sense of what is valid information and what is dark propaganda. The influence Ops of militants and their sponsors through dozens of websites outlets underscore the vulnerabilities of the youth to get access to their nefarious activities–from claiming terrorism to deligitmising the statehood of Pakistan.
Youth's mind manipulation through social media is an art only to exacerbate biases, stereotypes and mischaracterization of Pakistan and Balochistan's future aspirations through CPEC and the development trajectory.
Unregulated social media will soon be a national security challenge which Pakistani policy makers still do not understand and by clinging to old myths like freedom of speech they only subject the youth to more radicalisation and provocation. For example, the rise of ISIS in Syria and Iraq getting traction and recurrent in the western world was due to the net based propaganda and its influence and information operations.
Hackers, cyber schemes and dark propagandists are already undermining the digital sovereignty of advanced countries like America, UK and Russia.
We have yet to have strategic coherence with regard to the challenges of digital threats necessitating regulation of borders of social media.
It is very important that the concerned authorities invest in dignalized projects to engage the youth of Balochistan and give a counter narrative to militants and also check what is churned out through social media.
Now it is very important to remember that Balochistan has around 70 percent youth under the age of 22 years. They have the keyboards and time of the whole word.
If we do not work on soft power, the kinetic edge will not do all the wonders.
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