* Gen Raheel says army will go behind terrorists, their abettors, sympathisers and financiers across country * Forces will go to any length to establish writ of the state
RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on Wednesday warned foreign intelligence agencies against trying to de-stabilise Pakistan by supporting terrorists in Balochistan province.
He made these remarks during his visit to Quetta where he met Governor Muhammad Khan Achakzai, Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik and Commander Southern Command.
He also visited FC headquarters and reviewed security situation as well as progress of FC operation against terrorists, ISPR Director General Asim Saleem Bajwa tweeted on social media.
General Raheel said, “We will unearth terrorists, their abettors, sympathizers and financers.” “No one will find place in the country to hide. We will go to any length for writ of the state,” he added.
The terrorists would be defeated ‘comprehensively’, he maintained.
While commending law enforcement agencies and the FC for noticeable law and order improvement, the COAS vowed to stand by people of Balochistan to bring peace and prosperity in the province.
The Frontier Works Organization (FWO) will continue development projects in the province, he said.
The COAS highlighted security challenges of Balochistan province and emphasised the need to adopt integrated approach by the civil and military leadership and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to bring peace to Balochistan.
He expressed grief on brutal killing of poor and innocent labourers by terrorists in Turbat and vowed to support Balochistan government in eliminating the terrorists.
Upon arrival, the army chief was received by Commander of Southern Command Lt General Nasir Khan Janjua.
Meanwhile, the chief of army staff met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad on Wednesday.
Matters relating to Balochistan situation came under discussion, according to a statement issued by the PM House said.
Sources privy to the meeting said that the Operation Zarb-e-Azb might be expanded to Balochistan.
The army launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb against militants in North Waziristan in June 2014.
“The prime minister and chief of army staff mulled ways to restore peace in Balochistan through a comprehensive action against terrorists,” the sources said, and added that the visit of a high-level delegation led by Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to Saudi Arabia to discuss Yemen crisis also came under discussion in the meeting.
The meeting between civil and military top leadership comes days after the brutal killing of 20 labourers belonging to Punjab and Sindh provinces in a remote town of southern Balochistan. On April 11, 20 construction workers were massacred in a predawn attack on their camp near Turbat city in Kech district of Balochistan.
Balochistan Liberation Front had claimed responsibility of the incident.
Acting on a tip-off, the Frontier Corps on April 13 shot dead at least 13 suspected militants, including assailants accused of killing the 20 labourers in Turbat.
“Security forces with the help of secret agencies have launched a massive search operation in and around Turbat,” spokesperson for FC Balochistan said.
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