CM Maryam announces Rs10b aid for Balochistan, vows support against terrorism

QUETTA:

Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday announced Rs10 billion in assistance for Balochistan during her one-day official visit to Quetta, vowing “every possible” support for the province and urging national unity and inter-provincial coordination to defeat terrorism.

The Punjab chief minister’s visit comes amid heightened security in Balochistan after terrorists launched a series of coordinated attacks at multiple locations in Balochistan on January 31. The provincial government imposed Section 144 across Balochistan for one month, citing heightened security concerns and the overall law-and-order situation. 

During a meeting with Balochistan CM Sarfraz Bugti, Maryam said she was pleased that her first visit to Balochistan as chief minister was to Quetta. She praised the people of Balochistan for their spirit and what she described as their deep attachment to Pakistan.

Maryam said Punjab would provide “every possible” support to Balochistan in addressing its challenges. “We are with Balochistan,” she said, adding that terrorism could only be eliminated through national unity.

She said the government wanted to see peace, stability and prosperity in Balochistan.

On the occasion, Bugti welcomed Maryam to the province and praised Punjab’s announcement of Rs10 billion in support for security forces as a “positive and commendable step”.

Bugti said the government and opposition in Balochistan were united on public welfare, and that national unity was essential in the fight against terrorism.

According to a statement issued by the Balochistan government, Bugti received Maryam at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

“The two leaders discussed peace, public welfare and development in Balochistan, and signalled a joint commitment by the government and opposition to work together on the province’s priorities,” the statement said.

It added that both chief ministers agreed that ending terrorism was only possible through national unity and mutual cooperation.

Earlier, upon reaching Quetta, Maryam was received at the airport by Governor Balochistan Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, CM Bugti, members of the provincial cabinet and senior officials.

After the reception, Maryam attended a ceremony at the FC Headquarters. She later proceeded to the Governor House with the delegation, where she met Governor Mandokhail.

Maryam was accompanied by senior Punjab ministers, including Marriyum Aurangzeb and Azma Bukhari, as well as the Punjab chief secretary.

The Punjab chief minister is also scheduled to meet families affected by the recent terrorist attacks during the visit and express solidarity with them.

Last week, security forces successfully concluded “Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-1” in Balochistan, carrying out a series of coordinated, intelligence-driven operations against what the military described as Indian-sponsored terrorist elements.

In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the operations targeted terrorist groups seeking to disrupt peace and development by attacking innocent civilians, including women and children. The campaign involved swift and coordinated actions by the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and intelligence services.

Read This: Trains, mobile internet shut across Balochistan for fifth day after attacks

It added that a broader series of intelligence-based operations was then launched across multiple areas to dismantle terrorist sleeper cells through sustained combing and sanitisation efforts.

“Through meticulous planning, actionable intelligence, and seamless joint execution, Pakistan’s Security Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies with support of Intelligence Agencies under Operation Radd-ul-Fitna-1 responded with precision and resolve,” the ISPR said. “As a result of these well-coordinated engagements and subsequent clearance operations, 216 terrorists were sent to hell, significantly degrading the leadership, command-and-control structures and operational capabilities of terrorist networks.”

Read More: 197 terrorists killed, 22 security personnel martyred in Balochistan operations 

The military said a large cache of foreign-origin weapons, ammunition, explosives and equipment was recovered during the operations. Preliminary analysis, it said, pointed to systematic external facilitation and logistical support for the terrorist groups.

According to the ISPR, 36 civilians, including women and children, were killed during the operations, while 22 personnel from the security forces and law enforcement agencies “made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of Pakistan’s territorial integrity and the protection of its citizens.”

After the attacks in province, Defence Minister Khawaja said that Pakistan needed to deploy large numbers of troops in Balochistan because of the province’s vast geography amid the serious security situation and recent spate of attacks.

Speaking in the National Assembly (NA) on the matter, Asif said: “Balochistan constitutes over 40% of Pakistan geographically … to control it is much difficult than a populated city or area and it needs deployment of massive forces. Our troops are deployed there and are in action against them (terrorists) but they are physically handicapped by guarding and patrolling such a big area.”

The defence minister said the government tightened enforcement to curb smuggling, triggering a major protest at the Chaman border. He said some people argue the state should negotiate with nationalist movements, but claimed the protest movement was driven by commercial interests rather than politics or nationalism.