https://arab.news/5b7cg
- At least 38 security personnel, four civilians killed in militant attacks in Balochistan since July 4, says military
- Shehbaz Sharif chairs high-level meeting on prevailing law-and-order situation in Balochistan, says his office
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday blamed Pakistan’s “eastern neighbor” for backing recent militant attacks in the southwestern Balochistan province that killed 42 people, vowing the military and civilian leadership were united in their resolve to defeat militancy in the country.
Pakistan’s military said on Wednesday that at least 38 security personnel and four civilians had been killed in three major militant attacks in various areas of Balochistan since July 4. The army said law enforcement agencies had killed 54 militants belonging to the Baloch Liberation Army and the Pakistani Taliban in various counterterror operations.
Sharif arrived in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, on Thursday to chair a high-level meeting on the prevailing law-and-order situation in the province with both senior civil and military officials in attendance.
“There is no doubt that our eastern neighbor has a full hand in this chaos, in every way,” Sharif said, referring indirectly to India. “They are providing money to these terrorists and their groups, as well as providing weapons.”
He said these militant groups are based in Afghanistan and carry out attacks in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.
“And in the same way there are some other external hands, about whom I do not want to say anything further,” Sharif said.
Sharif said that the political and military leadership of Pakistan have unanimously decided to eliminate “terrorism” in the country.
“In this moment, the entire nation is standing with the Pakistan Army and law enforcement agencies,” Sharif said. “And throughout the day and night we pray to Allah that these sacrifices will bear fruit as soon as possible and terrorism will be eliminated.”
The attacks underscore the worsening security situation in Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated province, which borders Afghanistan and Iran.
Pakistan has repeatedly blamed its arch-rival India for supporting militant attacks in Balochistan and KP provinces. New Delhi denies the allegations and blames Pakistan for stoking militancy in the part of Kashmir that it administers.
Balochistan has long faced a separatist insurgency led by the BLA, while the TTP has also intensified attacks in the region. Pakistan also blames Afghanistan for providing sanctuaries to militant groups that it says attacks its law enforcers and citizens.
Afghanistan rejects these allegations and urges Pakistan to resolve its security challenges internally. Pakistan has carried out military operations and cross-border airstrikes in Afghanistan against alleged militant hideouts since last year, straining ties between the two nations and triggering fierce border clashes between them.