COAS Urges British Authorities to Take Action against Baloch Separatists, HuT

London –- Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif has urged British government take action against Baloch separatist leaders operating from Britain and outlawed Hizbut Tahrir (Hut).

Army chief, who is on three-day official trip to London, visited 10 Downing Street on the first day to meet British Prime Minister David Cameron and his security adviser Sir Kim Darroch.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Maj-Gen Asim Salim Bajwa, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant Rizwan Akhtar and other military officials are also among COAS in his visit.

DG ISPR, confirmed through Twitter, that COAS has called for action against the anti-Pakistan elements operating from outside the country and outlawed outfits. He also stressed on British authorities to ensure prevention of funding of these elements, he added.

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Sources said that the COAS has particularly raised the issue of HuT, because it has been infiltrating Pakistan Army.

HuT, which rejects democracy and seeks establishment of a global caliphate governed under Shariah law, is very active in western countries, particularly in Britain. The organization is banned in Pakistan and several other countries.

In May, 2012, four in-service military officials including a brigadier, were arrested and convicted for having links with HuT.

Sources said that COAS also sought stringent action against Baloch separatist leaders who are operating from London and are stirring unrest in the province.

The chief of separatist group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) – Nawabzada Hyrbyair Marri – currently lives in Britain and is running struggle for freedom of independence of Balochistan. British government had granted him political asylum in January 2011.

BLA has carried out a surge of attacks in the province in recent years, particularly targeting trains, government installments, gas-pipelines and civilians, especially non-Balochs.

COAS also held meetings with British Secretary of Defence Michael Fallen, Director of the Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism (OSCT) Charles Farr, Secretary of UK’s home office Mark Sedwill and discussed the current security situation of the region, including Afghanistan.