Afghan Spy Agency Behind Terrorism in Balochistan

The provincial and federal intelligence agencies in Balochistan, along with law enforcement agencies, recently established an Intelligence Fusion Cell in the restive province.

This cell had been receiving intelligence inputs since long that a specific group of militants was smuggling weapons in large numbers into Balochistan from some areas of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province. These weapons were going to be used for a series of terrorist activities across the province. Last week, on leads from intelligence agencies, the Frontier Corps in Balochistan along with the Balochistan Police conducted a successful operation and seized a large cache of weapons and ammunition; this was being transported on a truck en route to Balochistan. Several AK-47s, pistols, magazines, torches, telescopes and bullets were among the items recovered.

Prior to this, the intelligence agencies tipped off Frontier Corps and Baloch Police forces who then recovered large numbers of items used for bomb blasts from Pir Alizai forest area of Balochistan. The items included explosive material, remote-controlled detonators, prima cards and an assortment of switches, which were being imported to plan a host of terrorist activities across the province.

According to reliable information with security agencies, the militants in Balochistan have the support and help of Afghanistan's notorious spy agency, the National Directorate of Security (NDS). Furthermore, it was revealed that the NDS is not alone in all these activities, rather it has the assistance of various other foreign powers behind-the-scenes.

Later, Balochistan's Home Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti was given a briefing and exhibit of the seized weapons and ammunitions by Frontier Corps personnel.

Balochistan Govt to Provide Science and IT Teachers to Schools

QUETTA: Balochistan Government has decided to recruit science and information technology teachers for all high schools in the province.

Balochistan Secretary Education Ghulam Ali Baloch told Dawn.com that the provincial government has decided in principle to impart quality education to students.

He said a total of 1600 science and IT teachers would be appointed across the province.

"Through National Testing Service (NTS), teachers would be recruited," Baloch said.

Balochistan is legging behind other provinces, in terms of key social indicators, when compared to other parts of the country.

According to Chief Minister Balochistan, Dr Malik Baloch, currently 2.3 million children were out of school in the province, plagued by an insurgency and growing sectarianism.

The secretary education informed that besides these posts, 6500 posts for teachers were lying unoccupied in the province. He said all out efforts were being made to bring back the children to school.

For the first time in the history of the province, the coalition government has allocated almost 24 per cent of the budget for the education sector.

However, Ghulam Baloch said that most of the amount was being spent on salaries of teachers and other staff rather than development of the education sector.

The education department has also decided to impart modern training to 3000 teachers in order to improve standards of education.

"Capacity building of teachers is another issue," the secretary education said.

In response to a question, Ghulam Ali Baloch said that enrollment of students during the start of the academic year in Balochistan was not encouraging, as a limited number of students showed up at the government-run schools.

Baloch said that in southern Balochistan the condition of education institutions was miserable.

"Even we have no access to many institutions in the south," he added.

According to the provincial education department, there were more than 3000 ghost schools out of 12,600 in different parts of Balochistan.

Similarly, there were more than 5000 ghost teachers across the province.

A huge setback to Indian designs: Tonnes of explosives, 100s of Kalashnikoves & small arms seized near Chaman border

A huge setback to Indian designs: Tonnes of explosives, 100s of Kalashnikoves & small arms seized near Chaman border

A huge setback to Indian designs: Tonnes of explosives near Chaman border

India leading separatist movement in Balochistan: Zehri

QUETTA: Senior minister and president PML-N Balochistan Sardar Sanaullah Khan Zehri has said that separatist movement in the province was led by India to damage Pakistan from every aspect. Talking to media Monday, Zehri said the neigbouring countries of Pakistan and the US wanted to destabilise the country. He further said few countries did not want to see Gwadar port operational and he doubted Pakistan achieving this goal.

Arms, Explosives and Detonators etc, Recovered by FC from Gulistan, Balochistan

FC Balochistan Seizes Arms which were to be used by Indian funded BLA Terrorists for mass terror attack

In Pictures: Passing out Parade 55th batch of FC Balochistan

Passing out parade of 55th batch of Frontier Corps Balochistan was conducted on 6th March 2014 at Frontier Corps training centre at Loralai and Governor Balochistan Muhammad Khan Achakzai was the chief guest.

Uch-II power project launched in Balochistan

QUETTA: Significant development has made to end energy crisis in the country, a power project Uch power project-II of capacity to generate 404 megawatts electricity inaugurated in Balochistan province on Monday.

Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif launched the project during his visit to Balochistan in Dera Murad Jamali of the province.vNawaz Sharif, while addressing to the inauguration ceremony, said that the federal government will be able to counter power shortage in next three years.

A French company GDF-SUEZ has constructed the plant for increasing the electricity generation capacity of Uch power plant up to 990 megawatts.

He said that new power lines will be installed in Nasirabad and Sibi division areas during the ongoing development projects in Balochistan. The prime minister urged the unity of all institutions in order to take prosperity in the country.

'Despite all odds, I am going to school every day'

Wearing a traditional purple scarf with a red bandage tied on her forehead, Parveen Manzoor is desperate for every child in her dusty village to enroll in school. Parveen, herself, is fortunate enough to be studying at a girls’ school in Sara Ghurgai, a town located north of Quetta.

“Despite all odds, I am going to school every day,” Parveen says.

Parveen’s determination is commendable as Balochistan struggles to educate its children. According to officials in the province’s education department, 2.3 million boys and girls in Quetta and 32 other districts across Balochistan remain deprived of this fundamental right.

Speaking to Dawn.com on the issue, advisor to the chief minister on education Sardar Raza Muhammad Bareech says, “Children from 10,000 settlements are currently deprived of schooling.”

Some organisations are taking initiative on the issue realising the importance of education to counter extremist tendencies and overcome growing radicalisation. One such initiative is by the Pashtoonkhwa Students Organisation which aims to combat terrorism in Pakhtun-dominated areas by improving education levels.

In line with their objective the organisation launched a month-long campaign encouraging families to enroll their children in school. Parveen also took active part in their rallies.

“Even on the street where my house is, a number of children are not going to school,” Parveen says hoping her efforts will change their mind.

There are some encouraging developments. Chief for the organisation’s Balochistan chapter Kabir Afghan says, “thousands of girls and boys have enrolled into schools (as a result of the campaign).”

Like Parveen, young Saima also took part in the rally. “We want education,” she firmly stated, joining her friends in chanting slogans at the rally in Sara Ghurgai, she shouted:

“We want a teacher in every class”, “every child in school” and “a school in every village.”

To lend their support and show solidarity with the initiative, a large number of local tribesmen also participated in the rally actively convincing parents to send their children to school.

Claims and counter-claims

Financial, as well as social factors appear to be the main obstacles in the remote-areas of the province. According to the 1998 census, there were a total of 22,000 settlements across Balochistan.

In comparison, the Balochistan Education Department put the number of government-run primary, middle and high schools at 12,600. “Most schools in the province are ghost schools,” Afghan says.

Over 1,000 schools either have no boundary wall and in a number of instances no ceiling as well. The lack of a proper infrastructure exposes children to rainfall, as well as harsh weather during winter says Secretary for Education Ghulam Ali Baloch. In addition, most of schools have no drinking water and no toilets.

“We are unable to provide all facilities to schools due to insufficient resources,” Bareech explains. During the last three months, despite their limitations he says, the department was able to make 300 schools functional.

This was possible as for the first time in the history of the province the government led by Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has allocated 24 per cent of the provincial budget for education. “We are determined to educate our new generation,” Dr Malik Baloch told Dawn.com.

Baloch’s determination is noteworthy but there are several key factors impeding his success which need to be tackled simultaneously. The law and order situation in the province is of prime concern as is the need for better governance.

The government claims to have increased student enrolment during the academic year 2014 but a large number of children are still out of school.

“Forget about the quality (of education), our children are deprived of even primary education,” Afghan says, adding that one of the main objectives of the Pashtoonkhwa Students Organisation was to enable the students to read and write.

Other stumbling blocks

Quality education in Balochistan is merely confined to a handful of educational institutions which are expensive and located in the provincial capital of Quetta.

“I cannot afford high fees of private schools,” says Ghulam Haider, a government servant whose kids study in a government-run school in Quetta.

Despite these efforts to improve quality and access to education, the far-flung areas of Balochistan such as Dera Bugti, Awaran and Musa Khel remain a grave challenge for the government, where buildings for government schools are used for anything but imparting education.

A strong commitment is essential through successive governments in order for the resource-rich province to improve education levels.

Over 700 development schemes underway in Balochistan

More than seven hundred development schemes will be completed in Balochistan province during the next three years.

According to spokesman of Planning and Development department that the proposed schemes are related to education, health, drinking water, road and irrigation sectors for which over seven billion rupees have been released.

He said that 600 primary and middle schools would be constructed and upgraded in addition to establishing three medical colleges in Loralai, Khuzdar and Turbat.

The spokesman added that one hundred and thirty nine miscellaneous schemes would also be completed during this period.

Rs7mn distributed among Balochistan Artists: CM Balochistan

QUETTA: Chief Minister Balochistan, Dr Abdul Malik Baloch Tuesday said that Rs 7 million has been distributed among the Artists of Balochistan.

He added that Minister for Sports and Culture has been asked to workout on provision of endowment funds to the disable and poor Artists to ensure their permanent financial support. He expressed these remarks while talking to media persons after the ceremony of "Artist Day" held in connection with the Balochistan Sport Festival here at local hotel. The ceremony was also attended by the Minister for Sports and Culture Mir Mujeeb-ur-Rehman, and Balochistan cabinet members.

"Incumbent government was committed to remove the sense of deprivation and frustration by taking concrete steps and making arrangements for healthy activities," the CM stressed.

He said that the Artists facing financial hardships were being approached to compensate them as they are the assets of the province.

To promote Sports in the province, provincial government would construct Sports Complex at each district. Earlier, Renowned Artists including Jangi Khan, Taj Mohammad Tajal, Shakeel Ahmed, Mohammad Shafee Ishaq, Nadir Naseer and Farooz performed on the occassion.

MILITANTS ENJOY SUPPORT OF AFGHAN, INDIAN INTELLIGENCE, SAYS SARFRAZ BUGTI

QUETTA: Balochistan Home Minister has revealed that militants in his province enjoy support of Afghan and Indian Intelligence.

Addressing a press conference with FC officials on Monday, Sarfraz Bugti said FC foiled major terror bid in the province and recovered huge cache of arms, ammunition, and explosives, while 2 culprits were also arrested.

He said militants had set up their camps in Afghanistan and enjoyed full support of Afghan and Indian intelligence agencies, aimed at destabilizing Pakistan.

Earlier, FC officials showed arms and ammo, recovered in from a truck in Gulistan, Qila Abdullah area.

The cache includes 100 Kalashnikovs, 136 9mm pistols, 9 Kalakov, Three G-3, and binoculars.

Forces also raided a place in Pir Alezai, between Qila Abdullah and Pishin, and recovered 70 sacks full of explosives, 45 bombs, 200 detonators, remote controls and other devices.

PM Nawaz Sharif vows to spend $1.6bn on Balochistan development

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Fridaysaid that US $1.6 billion will be spent on different development projects in Balochistan, with Gawadar being developed as a model city.

Addressing the Cabinet Meeting, the Prime Minister said the development in Balochistan was a priority for the government and development plans to put the most neglected province on road to progress, “were being implemented expeditiously.”

He said that Gawadar was being developed as a model city and a socio-economic package has been planned for it, adding that Gawadar Airport and Sea Port were being developed on modern lines.

Prime Minister Sharif told the Cabinet that US $1.6 billion will be spent on these projectsand added that he himself will monitor these projects.

He said the socio-economic package included provision of skilled manpower through training of human resource in different sectors including health and education, while development of health and education infrastructure to cater for the people of Balochistan have also been planned.

The Prime Minister said: “The public money is sacred and we should ensure its judicious and efficient spending.” He said that the economy was the government's top priority and it was providing equal attention to all parts of the country.

The Cabinet also approved the tariff of US $0.66/MMBTU for LNG services project, secured through competitive bidding process by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources.

It also decided that the policy guidelines of the tariff, will be conveyed to OGRA.

The Cabinet further decided that other aspects of the commercial agreement will be settled between the two parties, Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and EPTL of Qatar.

Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, while briefing the Cabinet, informed that the price of LNG was competitive with the international market.

He said the contract will be for 15 years and will provide 200 MMBTU of LNG in the first year and would be increased to 400 MMBTU from the 2nd year.

BLA working for Freedom or Terrorism? The picture explains it

So Many Enemies, All A Together Against Pakistan

Mama Qadir working on agenda to seprate Balochistan

MamaQadeer Son Jalil Reki was a top terrorist of BLA involved in terrorist activities