Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday vowed to upgrade the professional capabilities of Balochistan’s law enforcement agencies to counter the resurgence of terrorism in the province.
“The center will provide all-out support to the Balochistan government to maintain peace and eradicate terrorism from the province,” he said during a meeting with Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti in Quetta. A day earlier, a suicide bombing claimed by the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) targeted the Quetta Railway Station, killing 27 people and injuring over 60 others. The bombing occurred in the morning, a short time before three trains were set to depart, ensuring a large number of travelers at the Railway Station.
The attack drew swift condemnations from both Pakistani leaders and their global counterparts, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Malaysian P.M. Anwar Ibrahim, and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
According to a statement, the interior minister and Balochistan chief minister reviewed the situation after the bombing, and discussed the measures taken to maintain peace, public security, and the protection of property in the province. Both leaders also paid homage to the martyrs of the explosion and prayed for the elevation of their ranks. “The war against terrorism is the war of every Pakistani, and the defeat of our enemies in this war is the first and last option,” they vowed.
Bugti stressed that efforts were underway to ensure law and order in Balochistan. He reiterated that a handful of elements were involved in terrorist activities in Balochistan and they would be brought to book. The meeting, also attended by senior officials of Balochistan, reviewed the overall law and order situation and the preliminary report of the bombing. The meeting decided to take decisive steps with “full force to crush the terrorists and expand intelligence-based operations to thwart the nefarious designs of anti-state elements.”
According to an official press release, Naqvi told the participants the federal government would provide all possible support to the Balochistan government in its fight against terrorism. He also assured resources for Balochistan on a priority basis, including training to strengthen the professional capabilities of police, counter-terrorism department (CTD), Levies and other forces of the province. He stressed the government’s commitment to defeating enemies who want to weaken Pakistan by furthering their nefarious designs.