The Monday’s tragic events in Balochistan province, which resulted in the brutal killing of over 50 civilians and security forces personnel besides damage to infrastructure, have exposed the barbaric mindset of terrorists and underscored the need for taking decisive action against terrorism. Syed Akhtar Ali Shah, former Inspector General of Police (IGP) KP, while talking to APP here Tuesday, strongly emphasized that these horrific attacks in Balochistan have validated the government’s decision to initiate an anti-terrorism operation i.e Azm e Istehkam to purge the country from remnant of terrorism. “The brutal killings of civilians and security forces personnel highlighted that the Azm-e-Istehkam Operation is extremely necessary and in the country’s vital interests,” he said.

Condemning the attacks, he said that it was a grim reminder of the terrorists’ barbaric intentions and nefarious goals, adding anti Pakistan’s forces and rival intelligence agencies were likely to be behind of these terror attacks in a bid to create law and order situation in Balochistan to disrupt progress on CPEC and create hurdles in Pak-China relationship. Expressing solidarity with the victims’ families, Akhtar asserted that the Balochistan tragedy has also disproved the arguments against operation Azm e Istekham. He called for national unity and extended full support to our valiant security forces imperative to combat terrorism and establish lasting peace in the country. “People should keep close vigil on their surroundings and immediately inform police after seeing suspected movement or presence of unwanted elements,” he said, adding the war against terrorism could be speedily won when people of all walks of life forward hands of cooperation to the Govt and law enforcement agencies.

Dr A.H. Hilali, former Chairman of the Political Science Department at the University of Peshawar, termed the Balochistan’s attacks are highly deplorable and showed disregards of the terrorists for humanity. He said Pakistan has borne significant human and economic losses in fight against terrorism and pointed out towards instability in the region following the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and the subsequent rise of terrorism incidents in Pakistan, which exacerbated the security challenges especially in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to its long porous border with war-torn Afghanistan. He said Pakistan has been facing scourge of terrorism for last more than 23 years in which people of all walks of life had given sacrifices in terms of human and material losses, adding former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto Shaheed, Governor Punjab Salman Taseer Shaheed, Senior Minister KP Bashir Bilour Shaheed, Senator Hidatullah Khan Shaheed, CCPO Malik Saad and thousands others laid down lives for Pakistan.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan