Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reiterated the civil and military leadership’s resolve to eliminate “India-backed” terrorism from Balochistan, as he chaired a meeting of the Provincial Apex Committee on the National Action Plan in Quetta.
A day earlier, military spokesman Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry had confirmed at least 54 India-backed terrorists were killed, while 42 troops and civilians embraced martyrdom in the defense of the motherland during three major terrorist incidents across Balochistan in a span of four days.
Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Balochistan Governor Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, and heads of law enforcement agencies were among the officials who attended the Apex Committee meeting, convened after the surge in terrorist violence in the province.
In his address, Sharif expressed concerns over the recent terrorist attacks in the province, saying “very serious incidents” took place over the past four days. “We have to thwart the nefarious designs of Fitna al-Khawarij,” he said, as he lauded the sacrifices of the armed forces and the civilians. He said the entire nation stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the armed forces.
“This war [on terror] will continue until the last terrorist in Pakistan is eliminated,” he vowed.
Referring to India’s alleged involvement in the violence, the prime minister said Pakistan’s “eastern neighbor” was responsible for the terrorist attacks, adding Afghan soil was being used to launch attacks in Pakistan. He claimed the “enemy was unable to digest Pakistan’s diplomatic achievements.”
Sharif asserted that all available resources would be utilized to eradicate the scourge of terrorism and put the country on the path of sustainable development and prosperity.