The Pakistani security forces have been seen advancing in the Kahan area of Kohlu as military operations are underway in various other areas in the same region. The locals, feeling overwhelmed and restrained by the heavy presence of the security forces, have resorted to abandoning their homes and relocating to other areas.
According to local sources, military operations are being carried out in several areas of district Kohlu. These operations are ostensibly the result of a decision that was made in the past month when the Pakistani Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed travelled to Quetta and met with the inspector general of the Frontier Corps and other officials. The FC officials had briefed Rasheed about the law and order situation in Balochistan.
Speaking in the meeting, Rasheed had said that measures will be taken to long-lasting, durable peace in Balochistan, and to that end, the National Action Plan – an action plan introduced by the Pakistani government to crack down on “terrorism” – will be implemented.
Analysts and independent thinkers believe these comments were essentially the validation of the rumours that military operations will be carried out on a large scale in Balochistan to “hunt down” – or so they say – the Baloch nationalists and “pro-independence” leaders.
Per the new strategy, wide-ranging military operations will be carried out in several areas of Balochistan, particularly in Bolan, Makran, Kalat and Kohlu. The recent military operation is a hint that the strategy has been put into practice.
Since the start of the year, military operations have been conducted in Bolan, Harnai, Sibi, Mastung, Kech and several areas of Awaran. Many of these operations have been reportedly assisted by highly-equipped military choppers.