Gen Naseer Janjua about Militancy and Terrorism in #Balochistan and Foreign Hand behind #BLA and #BLF

Punjab to fund Balochistan projects

LAHORE - On the special directions of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the Punjab government will provide cooperation for construction of two parks and designing and renovation of an important road for the people of Balochistan.

During the visit of Balochistan Chief Minister, Dr Abdul Maalik to Lahore, it was decided that Punjab government will assist Balochistan government in designing and renovation of two parks and airport road in Quetta. The Punjab chief minister Punjab has ordered immediate implementation of the decision regarding designing and renovation of airport road and construction of two parks in Quetta. Punjab government will provide all funds in this regard and it would be a gift for the people of Quetta.

Meanwhile, former federal minister Ejazul Haq met Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif here on Friday. Political situation of the country and national issues were discussed in the meeting, according to an official handout, Meanwhile, Assembly members of various districts called on the Punjab chief minister and informed him about the pace of ongoing development projects in their respective areas.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said that service to the people was the pivot of politics of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and it is serving the people of Punjab with honesty and commitment for the last five and a half years. He said that mega projects worth billions of rupees had been executed across the province. He said Punjab was rich in mineral resources which could be utilised for achieving the goal of self-sufficiency.  He said that a solid strategy has been adopted for fully benefiting from mineral wealth in the province. He said that a number of welfare programmes were continuing successfully for bringing the deprived segments of the society into national mainstream.  Those who met the Chief Minister included Syed Muhammad Asghar Shah, Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan, Muhammad Afzal Khokhar and Rais Mehbob Ahmad.

Balochistan Militancy Devastates Education System

The provincial government, responding to public demands for stepped-up security, vows to improve the situation.

QUETTA – Nazeer Ahmed Bangulzai was a typical student in the Awaran area of Balochistan Province, but militant threats have reached the point that they are blocking him from an education.

"My father is not letting me to go to school," the 10th-class student said. "He told me that armed men would kill me if they found me going to school." This situation has repeated itself throughout the province, blocking thousands of young students from getting an education. And that's casting a shadow on the future for coming generations.

"Our future is moving ahead in darkness; someone should come forward to assist us in this calamitous situation so that we can continue our education without any fear," Nazeer said. As the situation reaches the crisis point, Balochistan residents are calling for the provincial government to step up efforts to keep the school system functioning.

"The role of government is, primarily, in protecting educational institutions," Mohammad Ali, a schoolteacher in Noshki, told Central Asia Online. "If they [the schools] are destroyed by the militants, the government must ensure that these schools are rebuilt and the process of education continues without any further disruption."

Dropout rates pose a major challenge

Militant attacks on schools and on educators have forced roughly 70,000 children to leave school this year, according to officials. The terrorism has included barrages of gunfire at school buses. Roughly 1.3m children throughout the province aren't going to school, Balochistan Chief Minister Dr. Abdul Malik said.

"A high dropout rate and poor access of children to school have emerged as the biggest challenges in the province," he said. Observers accuse the militancy of being the chief culprit behind Balochistan's nation-leading illiteracy rate, A.N. Sabir, president of the Government Teachers Association Quetta, told Central Asia Online.

"The militants' biased attitude is shutting the doors of education ... and they want to keep the masses in the darkness of ignorance," Shantul Gurginari, a senior educator and former professor of history in Balochistan, said. "It is a great conspiracy against Balochistan that anti-peace elements want to smash the entire system of education in the province," Ali said. "These militant groups are trying to keep the Baloch nation backward and illiterate ... making their youth easily susceptible to militancy."

Putting children back in school

The harsh situation contradicts what the residents want, analysts say. "People want their children to be literate … but in reality there is no one to help them out," Khuzdar social worker Behram Rind told Central Asia Online. "In conflict areas, seeking an education might cost you your life."

The provincial government says it recognises the need to ensure safe access to schools and a safe learning environment. "We are taking all possible measures to maintain law and order and to restore the educational system in the militancy-hit areas," Malik said.

The government is reviewing education-related policies and has allocated Rs. 61.3 billion (US $62m) to fix the problems, he said. Reforms will include providing security for teachers, students and other stake-holders, Sabir said.

"It is the need of the hour to eradicate the menace of extremism and terrorism from education in Balochistan," he added.

FC important partner in socio-economic development of Balochistan

Frontier Corps Balochistan has made its presence felt in a positive way in the largest province of Pakistan by running schools and colleges, providing medical facilities to patients and coming to aid of earthquake affectees in Awaran. The FC is playing an important role in the promotion of education in Balochistan with an aim to win hearts and minds of the people.

According to Frontier Corps Balochistan sources, it has been running six colleges and 33 schools in the province, in which over 13,000 students were presently getting education, 1,409 of them studying freely. The number of students in FC run schools will be raised upto 15000 in near future.

Some 400 local teachers have also been provided jobs in FC schools with free boarding, lodging, medical and transportation facilities. While 14 students are sponsored by the force to study in renowned educational institutions. The FC has provided hostel facility for over 300 students at five different locations including Loralai, Muslim Bagh, Zhob, Khuzdar and Dera Bugti.

During the earthquake relief operations in Awaran last year, the FC was the first institution, which responded to the natural calamity. FC took up the challenge as an opportunity to earn good will of masses. A total of 1739 troops participated in earthquake relief activities. It provided 5892 ration bags, distributed 14 relief goods trucks, 600 cartons of medicines and 425 shelters. FC provided specialist medical facilities to the people in far-flung areas of the province. According to available data, from 2011 to 2013, the FC provided medical facilities to 89,284 patients in 212 free camps across Balochistan.

In the year 2011, FC held 72 free camps providing treatment to 28753 patients, in the year 2012, 89 camps were set up and 30045 patients were treated. In 2013, 51 camps were established where 30486 patients got treatment. In close coordination with Home and Tribal Affairs Department of Government of Balochistan, FC has imparted training to 1533 personnel of Police Prisons Staff as well as Levies and Balochistan Constabulary in 11 batches. FC provides training to law enforcement agencies on a regular basis. During the year 2012 and 2013, FC trained 1380 Levies personnel in seven batches. While in 2013 it trained 103 personnel of Police Prison Staff in three batches and in the same year, it trained 50 personnel of Balochistan Constabulary in a single batch.

FC’s anti narco operations have continued alongside other duties with considerable success. From the year, 2011 to 2013, FC recovered narcotics worth Rs.5268 million and arrested 50 criminals selling the illegal substances. The force recovered 84600 kilograms of heroin, morphine, hashish, opium and chemicals.

The force also recovered 176,335 kgs of ammunition and 48,518 tons of explosive material from criminals. In its efforts to check illegal human trafficking, the FC Balochistan arrested 16,033 persons, including 14,972 Afghanis, 862 Pakistanis, 154 Bengalis and 34 Iranians.

ایف سی بلوچستان کا امدادی کیمپ

Challenges and Triumphs for Building Balochistan

Sardars, nawabs continue To dominate #Balochistan. They had done nothing but brought Balochistan to this stage

Foreign Designs against Balochistan

Located on the southwestern coast of Pakistan, Balochistan’s Gwadar deep-seaport is close to the Strait of Hormuz from where more than 17 million barrels of oil passes every day. Its ideal location among three key regions, South Asia, the oil-rich Middle East, and oil and gas-resourced Central Asia has further increased its strategic significance. Its development with Chinese assistance and latter’s bilateral agreements with Islamabad has shifted the great game of Central Asia to Pakistan.

Besides, Balochistan’s abundant mineral resources like gas, coal and gold, entailing Pakistan’s close ties with China pinches the eyes of the US, India, Israel and some western countries which intend to destabilize Pakistan for their collective aims. These hostile powers are trying to create fissures between Islamabad and Beijing so as to sabotage their strategic alliance.

In this regard, Balochistan’s business and trade opportunities have also made it important for US, EU, Russia, China, India, Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asian Republics to play the great game, while anti-Pakistan powers are secretly working to create conditions to control and influence the resource-rich zones, disregarding the compulsions of mainland integration.

While terror-acts and human rights violations are already keep on going in Balochistan, but without grasping reality, and using the existing political predicament in the province as a pretext to encourage separatism, external enemies raise voice on human rights violations over projection of mass graves which were found in Tootak area of Khuzdar on January 25, 2014. And Baloch Sub Nationalists (BSNs) have unleashed false allegations against Pakistan by purporting fabricated figures of bodies over 150 and declaring these bodies as missing Persons—articulated voices of external enemies to alleged enforced disappearances, holding Pakistan’s security forces and law-enforcing agencies responsible for every wrong which takes place in Balochistan. It seems ridiculous when some of them allegedly say that security agencies are behind terrorist activities in Balochistan. Nevertheless, on 30 January 30, 2014, US Congressman Louie Gohmert delivered a highly venomous speech at US House of Representatives on Balochistan Situation, citing his meeting with BSN leadership, which was broadcasted live on Cable Satellite Public Affairs Network in US. Senator Gohmert also read out the article of Tarek Fateh (Canada based BSNs’ sympathizer), published by Toronto “SUN” on January 28, criticizing US for ignoring the mass graves issue during US Senator John Kerry’s meeting with Pakistan’s National and Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz. 

Notably, India, US and Israel have been internationalizing the Balochistan issue in accordance with their secret goals. In this respect, in connivance with the Baloch separatist leaders who have taken refuge in Switzerland, Sweden, US and London, these external elements use media, various NGOs and human rights organizations for false propaganda against Pakistan’s security agencies in relation to extrajudicial killings, mutilated bodies and the missing persons. 

As regards the deteriorating situation of Balochistan and the missing persons, everyone knows that Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and their affiliated outfits including another group, Jundollah (God’s soldiers) which have been fighting for secession of the province gets logistic support from American CIA and Indian RAW—these militants kidnapped and killed many innocent people and the security personnel in the province. They also massacred many persons through suicide attacks, bomb blasts, targeted killings and sectarian violence. 

Therefore, they are responsible for dumped bodies and extrajudicial killings in the province. On a number of occasions, these insurgent groups claimed responsibility for their subversive acts. A majority of the disappeared individuals are also in the detention centers (Farrari Camps) which are being run by Baloch feudal lords (Sardars) who want to continue old system of feudalism in the province.

Unfortunately, BLA and BSNs are also in collusion with some US Congressmen to get foreign support so as to animate the scheme of separatism in Balochistan. In this context, dissidents like Khan of Kalat Mir Suleman Khan, Hyrbyair Marri, Mehrab Sarjov and others are busy in Europe and US to project Balochistan issue on international level. For the purpose, these leaders and especially, Baloch feudal lord, Khan of Kalat planned to take the issue of Balochistan to International Court of Justice (ICJ) and expected that India would pay $2.4 million lawyers’ fee to contest their case in ICJ. As Indian support did not get materialized, these leaders contacted to US officials to forward their case.

In February 8, 2012, three Republican Congressmen including Dana Rohrabacher, Louie Gohmert and Steve King tabled a bill before US Congress stating, “Balochistan is currently divided between Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan with no sovereign rights of its own. In Pakistani Balochistan the people are subjected to violence and extrajudicial killings.” The bill favoured Baloch rights of self-determination, having a sovereign state—and must be afforded the opportunity to choose their own status.

Earlier, the US subcommittee on ‘Oversight and Investigations of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs’ convened a hearing on extrajudicial killings and violation of human rights in Baluchistan. Rohrabacher chaired the meeting, while Lt. Col. (R) Ralph Peters testified. Lt. Col. (R) Peters is the architect of infamous 2006—New Middle East map and is an advocator for the disintegration of Muslim states on sectarian and religious lines. His map shows a number of Islamic countries including Pakistan as truncated. While writing in the June 2006 issue of The Armed Forces Journal of the US, he had suggested Washington about the creation of a “Greater Balochistan” which would integrate the Baloch areas of Pakistan with those of Iran—and the Frontier Province (Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa) should be incorporated into Afghanistan.”

Although the US Administration quickly distanced itself from Congressional hearing by Rohrabacher and Peters’ testimony, yet US denial does not augur well with ground reality, as American think tanks, NGOs and websites go on instigating the separatist elements in Baluchistan. US State Department which funded National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and Voice of Baluchistan (VOB) have been instrumental in fomenting dissension and nationalistic feelings in the province. It has been pressurizing Pakistan to allow opening of a US consulate in Quetta. The aim is to execute US covert designs against Islamabad.

It is mentionable that the Tea Party members in US Congress, especially Dana Rohrabacher, Louie Gohmert and Steve King are reportedly working to create an independent Balochistan. Their leaders are angry with Pakistan on the self-created presumption of sheltering Osama-bin-Laden, and intend to teach a lesson to Islamabad by assisting the Baloch separatists. These Tea Party members who currently back the idea of a sovereign Balochistan were in the forefront of Afghan Jihad against the former Russia. They also held meetings with dissidents in London. 

As a result of the general elections 2013, the government led by a nationalist leader Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch was established. And on December 7, 2013; local bodies elections were largely held in a peaceful manner in Balochistan. However, these elections proved that majority of the Baloch are loyal to the federation, as they have rejected the case of separatists, being projected by Dana Rohrabacher including other entities. 

Now, the right hour has come that Pakistan’s internal entities, particularly media must expose the foreign sinister aims against Balochistan. They must indicate that Baloch dissidents are being supported by external forces which are actually having devouring eyes on Balochistan’s mineral deposits. US Congressmen must also not encourage separatist elements in the province to advance their own agenda to usurp resources of Balochistan. US government must not muddle in the internal affairs of Pakistan, otherwise it will lead to dangerous consequences. 

Pakistani media, civil society, political parties and judiciary must realize that Balochistan is being plotted as part of the great game in which US and its allies plan to fulfil their strategic interests at the cost of Pakistan and China. Hence, all Pakistanis must get united to negate and defeat the greedy designs of US, EU and India. 

Political instability in Balochistan must come to an end and present government in Balochistan must be supported by media, civil society and political parties. 

Our media must denounce the intriguing designs of US members of the Tea Party, who are showing their hypocrisy and double face regarding Balochistan. Media should point out that these hostile members draw sanctified reference from British colonial era of the 18the century when a protest in Boston against absurd taxation on Tea (product) was held by a Tea Party as a measure of raising voice for human rights. The situation in Balochistan presents an internal issue of Pakistan which has mainly been addressed by the political leadership.

The issue of mass graves is under court investigations and official findings are being completed through DNA testing. Hostile propaganda by BSNs that actual number of bodies found was much higher than 13, as officially reported, must be countered. Foreign propaganda should not be allowed to encourage the separatists who are in minority. 

Media must also indicate that besides protecting mega projects, and promoting other developments works, Pak Army set up a number of institutes in Balochistan, which have been providing especially technical training to thousands of Balochis. Pak Army has also been imparting military training to the Baloch youth. The purpose is to bring the Baloch people in the mainstream of the country. 

Particularly, our missions abroad must counter foreign designs and denounce meetings between Baloch dissidents and US Congressmen by exposing the connivance of anti-Pakistan forces against Balochistan.

Pakistan: Baloch Separatists’ Foreign Connections

Although Pakistan’s security forces have successfully been coping with the Taliban militants in the tribal areas, yet situation has deteriorated in Balochistan where subversive events like targeted killings, attacks on buildings, oil pipelines etc. have intensified. In fact, with the tactical support of the US and Israel, India have been supporting feudal lords (Sardars) of Balochistan to oppose country’s federation. These external elements have also been providing arms and ammunition to the Baloch separatist leaders.

Notably, on August 14, 2009, Financial Times (online) had reported “Settlers from other parts of Pakistan, especially Punjab, have been given deadlines to leave.”  As a matter of fact, this is what the Indian plotters wanted by inciting the general masses of Balochistan to openly speak against the federation of Pakistan and the Punjabis for all the injustices, created by the Baloh feudal lords (Sardars) who have been fighting for their own so-called status, prestige and influence, while working on the agenda of foreign countries.

Although Pakistan’s civil and military leadership has repeatedly stated that Indian secret agency, RAW supports separatism in the province of Balochistan, and its evidence will be shown to the western countries at the right occasion, yet Indian intervention in Balochistan is not confined to verbal statements, it has in fact proved. In this context, the Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA), New Delhi organised a seminar titled: South Asia 2020 in relation to Balochistan. In their speeches, various scholars and thinktanks maligned Pakistan in one or the other way.

Besides the seminar, on November 5, 2009, a secret conference titled: “Pakistan is Problem in Balochistan” was organised by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in New Delhi. It was headed by the former secretary of RAW and Indian former chief of army staff. In that conference, three Baloch leaders, namely, Dr Wahid Baloch, Khan of Kalat and Munir Mengal also participated.

The speech of Dr. Wahid Baloch, General Secretary of the American Friends Balohistan (AFOB) is of special attention. While vocally raising false allegations in line of the Indian conspiracy against Pakistan, Dr. Wahid Baloch explained, “Balochistan still remains under the occupation of Pakistan and the international community should interfere in preventing atrocities on the Baloch people, being committed by Pak Army and ISI. Dr. Wahid also indicated his misperceptions that several Baloch leaders, engineers and doctors were kidnapped, tortured and killed ruthlessly through Pakistan’s state terrorism.”

In fact, the secret conference organised by the Indian officials itself and participation of the Baloch leaders including anti-Pakistan elements prove that Indian secret agency RAW is behind all the events like hostage-takings, sectarian violence, targeted killings of the high profile leaders and other subversive acts being committed in Balochistan. On the other hand, people of Balochistan enjoy equal rights and opportunities like the people of other provinces of Pakistan. Meanwhile, in the recent past, President Asif Ali Zardari signed the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award. In this respect, Punjab province had shown much flexibility as a good gesture of sacrifice especially for Balochistan. So it is wrong to say that Balochistan is under occupation.

However, while favouring the Sardari system (Fedual lords), Dr. Wahid maintained that Balochistan is a tribal society which follows the directions of their tribal chiefs. In this way, he not only justified support for the Baloch Sardars but also for Khan of Kalat as they have been leading separatism in the province. As a matter of fact, the unrest actually started in Balochistan when various projects were undertaken by the previous government to develop the backward regions of the province. The sole aim was to eliminate frustration among the people by providing infrastructure and employment opportunities. The Baloch Sardars who had been backed by India and other external powers started opposing all the developmental projects. These Sardars who were running their own private jails and‘farrari camps’ resisted the government plans as they did not want to give up the old system of feudal lords. It was Pak Army which occupied private jails and farrari camps and thus set free several innocent people.

It is notable that Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) which has been fighting for secession of the province gets logistic support from India, while another CIA and Indian-supported separatist group, Jundollah (God’s soldiers) is alsoworking against the cordial relationship of Pakistan with China and Iran. In the past few years, their militants with the cooperation of foreign agents kidnapped and killed many Chinese and Iranian nationals in Pakistan, while committing other subversive acts in the province.

While impressing New Delhi, Wahid Baloch said, “We are a secular nation and not Islamist or extremist…our secular culture is under attack by Pakistan and Iran for which we need your help. He requested, “We also need your help for newly established council of Balochistan so that we can establish its offices all over the world.” Concluding his anti-Pakistan speech, Wahid Baloch pointed out that the ultimate goal of Baloch struggle was to seek a greater Balochistan comprising territory on either side of the Goldsmith line in Pakistan as well as Iran.

Baloch separatist’s foreign connections could be judged from the fact that Khan of Kalat and Munir Mengal repeated the thoughts of Dr. Wahid in the meeting held with the faculty of IDSA which assured them that India fully backs Baloch struggle and will definitely undertake necessary steps for making the same a success. It also pledged that all future activities of Baloch movement like guidance and help will be coordinated by a US team under the sponsorship of IDSA. Besides, Munir Mengal also gave a presentation at in which he also misinterpreted the economic aspects of Gwader Port as a threat to international community, opposing proposed China’s naval base at Gwader. Indian officials and RAW ex-officers in connivance with the participating Baloch leaders also decided to continue the process in the next meeting.

In the end of the meeting, Indian officials also assured the Baloch leaders that Baloch movement has not gain the momentum so far as expected, therefore, they could not support them openly—nevertheless, covert support will continue. They also paid 25000 dollars to each Baloch leader, assuring them more positive response. It is mentionable that America which signed a nuclear deal with India in 2008, intends to make India a mini-super power of Asia to contain China and destablise Pakistan as well as Iran. Balochistan where China has invested billion of dollars to develop Gwadar seaport irritates both Washington and New Delhi.

Besides, on November 21, 2009, with the consent of the Baloch national leader Mir Hyrbyair Marri, Laurie Deamer who is active member of the Independence American Friends of Balochistan read out the resolution in the first international conference at the Nation Press Club in Washington DC. The resolution also raised same allegations regarding Pak Army and state terrorism by implicating Islamabad and Tehran, emphasizing the necessity of an independent Balochistan. While taking the breaking of Pakistan as inevitable and in the interests of the international community, especially the Baloch people and the United States, the conference called upon the US government and its affiliated departments to talk directly about Baloch independence, sending American leaders in Balochistan and abroad.

Now foreign elements are propagating in Balochistan that if Baloch people want to get freedom, they will have to intensify their struggle. They must forget their differences immediately and get united. In this regard, they emphasise that well-maintained political conscious and motivated guerrilla force can defeat the Pak Army. For this purpose, every tribal chief should provide man power—10,000 men for the battle field. If they have 25,000 men, they can occupy every village of Balochistan within six months. They also suggested that all tribes must collect funds for running guerrilla warfare, while each fighter will be paid Rs. 8000/- per month.

External elements have directed the Baloch separatist lords to organize four groups in order to perform various subversive acts. In this respect, first group of 1500 fighters will attack supply route, disrupt communication and transportation, causing maximum damage. Second group of 100 men will target the economical arteries throughout Pakistan like power houses, main electric lines, gas and oil pipelines, ports and blowing of bridges. Third group of 50 men will carry out targeted killings of the security persons, top government officials and anti-Baloch politicians. Fourth group will wage information warfare—will be consisted of well-educated Baloch people who will spread message of freedom to motivate every young Baloch, using internet and electronic media, producing news from Balochistan, while manipulating the same against the federation of Pakistan.

Army ready to help bring peace in Balochistan: COAS

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif said on Thursday that the Pakistan Army would provide maximum assistance in enhancing the capacity of Balochistan Police to ensure peace in the province. 

During his visit to Combat Training Area in Quetta Cantonment where specialised anti-terrorism training is being imparted to the personnel of Balochistan Police and Balochistan Constabulary, Gen Sharif said another three courses would be run by the Pakistan Army this year for police and Balochistan Constabulary. Southern Command Commander Lieutenant General Nasir Khan Janjua and other senior officers were also present on the occasion. According to ISPR, currently 200 individuals of police and Balochistan Constabulary are being imparted training by Pakistan Army’s Southern Command in Quetta. An eight-week-long course will conclude on February 7. The COAS appreciated the standard of training imparted by the team and enthusiasm displayed by the trainees. General Sharif expressed the hope that the trained persons would play an important role in combating the menace of terrorism in the province. 

Earlier in 2013, Pakistan Army provided 5,000 weapons and 500,000 rounds of ammunition to Balochistan Police besides imparting training to 200 policemen to enhance their capacity in anti-terrorism. The trained force now comprises Anti-Terrorist Force Balochistan, which has displayed good performance in the last few months after the training.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and General Raheel Sharif visited Southern Command Headquarters in Quetta on Thursday. Southern Command Commander Lieutenant General Nasser Khan Janjua gave a detailed briefing to the two leaders on Balochistan security situation. The prime minister appreciated the role of security forces in helping bring normalcy in Balochistan and directed both political and military leadership to devise joint strategy to ensure peace in the province.

PM, army chief in Balochistan; joint anti-terror strategy sought

QUETTA: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday urged the civil and military leadership to devise a joint strategy for ensuring durable peace in Balochistan.

He arrived in the provincial capital on a one-day visit and was accompanied by Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mehmood Khan Achakzai, National Party leader Mir Hasil Khan Bezinjo and Minister SAFRON Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch.

During his visit to Corps Headquarters at Quetta Cantonment, PM Sharif said security forces were playing commendable role for securing peace and tranquility in the province.

He called upon the military and civil leadership to adopt collective approach in this regard. The Prime Minister said that Federal Government was committed to resolving the issue of Balochistan and put it on the track to prosperity. He stressed the need to further accelerate development projects in the province to ensure relief for the masses.

Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch and Governor Mohammad Khan Achakzai were also present on the occasion.

Commander Southern Command Lieutenant General Nasir Khan Janjua gave detailed briefing to the premier on the overall law and order situation in Balochistan.

Earlier, the prime minister laid a floral wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada (martyrs memorial monument) to acknowledge the contribution of martyrs of Army, FC and police who sacrificed their lives to defend the country.

Balochistan Police to be reinforced

Meanwhile, army chief Gen Raheel Sharif said Pakistan’s armed forces will provide maximum assistance in enhancing the capacity of Balochistan Police to ensure peace in the province.

During his visit to Combat Training Area in Quetta Cantonment, where specialised anti-terrorism training is being imparted to personnel of Balochistan Police and Balochistan Constabulary, he said another three courses would be run this year.

The commander southern command and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.

According to ISPR, currently, 200 individuals of police and Balochistan Constabulary are being imparted training by Pakistan Army's Southern Command in Quetta. The eight-week long course will conclude on February 7.

General Sharif expressed the hope that the trained persons will play an important role in combating the menace of terrorism in the province.

Earlier in 2013, Pakistan Army provided 5,000 weapons and 500,000 ammunition to Balochistan police besides imparting training to 200 police individuals to enhance their capacity in anti-terrorism.

Dr Malik Inaugurates Sport Complex In Quake-Hit Awaran

The Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik inaugurated a children’s park in the district and distributed cheques among those affected by the quake. He inaugurated the area’s Sports Week, organized by local administration and the army as well as a sports complex and announced       5 million rupees for the district’s sports committee.