Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti on Thursday accused the Afghan government of providing “state patronage” to terrorists operating from their soil, alleging that terrorists utilize training camps and safe havens in the neighboring country.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Bugti said several khawarij (terrorists) slain by security forces were Afghan citizens. He urged Kabul to abide by the Doha agreement, in which the Afghan Taliban had committed to prevent their soil from being used against any other country.
Reiterating allegations that India’s intelligence agencies were funding violence against security forces and civilians in Balochistan, the chief minister said Pakistan was fighting a “RAW funded war” in the province. “India is trying to bring together all the actors working to destabilize Pakistan,” he said.
According to Bugti, security forces killed two terrorists and apprehended a third during a recent operation in Chaghi district. “Forces cordoned the house and offered the terrorists to surrender. They began firing, injuring a FC soldier. The forces retaliated, killing two terrorists while a third surrendered after an intense firefight,” he said, alleging one of the eliminated terrorists was responsible for reconnaissance of key government projects in Chaghi. The same individual, he claimed, had helped plan the attack on the FC Headquarters.
During his presser, the chief minister played the video confession of an apprehended terrorist, who admitted his involvement in several attacks. The suspect claimed the Baloch Liberation Army’s strategy was aimed at destabilizing the province.
Bugti claimed several militants shot themselves to avoid capture and destroyed mobile phones to erase sensitive data. He praised the courage and dedication of security personnel, congratulating them for neutralizing the threat. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating terrorism from Balochistan in all its forms.
To a question, the chief minister regretted the suspension of 4G mobile services across Balochistan. However, he said, terrorists were utilizing these services to stage attacks and intelligence agencies lacked the capacity to monitor all calls.
Separately, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari—whose government is in power in Balochistan—told a press conference in Karachi that the province’s issues must be resolved through political consensus to ensure decisions that benefit its people.