QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has said that the issue of Balochistan is not political in nature and can only be resolved through a military solution.
Speaking to a private Pakistani television channel, Bugti said that during times of conflict, all segments of society must stand with the state. He added that before 2018, the state’s policy was not based on reconciliation, but claimed that terrorist incidents increased due to a reconciliation-based approach adopted later.
The chief minister stated that after the Constitution of Pakistan, the National Action Plan (NAP) is the most important document, and that there was complete consensus between the political and military leadership on its implementation.
Bugti claimed that militant groups do not enjoy support from more than two to three percent of the population. He alleged that militants often use civilians as human shields while carrying out attacks in urban areas.
According to the chief minister, more than a thousand militants were killed in intelligence-based operations over the past year. He said the total number of militants and their facilitators operating in Balochistan does not exceed four to five thousand.
Bugti further stated that intelligence reports had indicated potential attacks in areas including Shaban and Panjgur. He said that the recent attacks resulted in the deaths of 31 civilians and 17 security personnel, while a combing operation remains ongoing in Nushki.
The Balochistan chief minister urged international media to refer to militants as terrorists. He also accused Afghanistan’s interim government of failing to honor its commitment to the international community, alleging that Afghan territory is being used against Pakistan.
