Pakistan Army Chief has stated that after ‘routing out terrorism’ in Khyber Pakhtun Khwa (KPK) our primary focus has been on Balochistan.
According to details received by The Balochistan Post, Pakistan’s Inter services Public relations (ISPR) has quoted General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) that “having achieved stability in troubled areas of Khaiber Pakhtunkha (KP), lately our primary focus has been on Balochistan, which is economic future of Pakistan”.
According to press release, COAS said these words in a briefing to Prime Minister, on his visit to Quetta, capital city of Balochistan.
A detailed briefing on security situation of the province, challenges and response was given to Pakistan’s PM. He was also briefed about socio-economic development based security of CPEC projects and progress of fencing along Pak-Afghan border.
It’s pertinent to mention that in 2014 Pakistani Army launched a massive military operation called Zarb-e-Azb, which was a joint military offensive conducted against various militant groups in KP.
Pakistani Army Chief’s confirmation comes at a time when military operations in different parts of Balochistan have been escalated.
However, attacks by Baloch armed groups on Pakistani installations in general and forces deployed for security of CPEC in particular have also spiked.
Unlike in KPK, where Taliban militants have been active for religious targets, Balochistan has seen an armed movement by secular Baloch groups to achieve, what these groups call, ‘independence of Balochistan’.