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Army denies operation in Balochistan

Published: July 18, 2012

DGMO says army wants a political solution to the issue. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE

ISLAMABAD: 

The military has denied mounting any operation in the restive Balochistan province.

“There is no military operation in any part of Balochistan and not a single soldier is out of the barracks,” Maj Gen Ishfaq Ahmed Nadeem, the director general military operation (DGMO) said on Tuesday.

Addressing a two-day national workshop at the National Defence University in Islamabad, he rebuffed as propaganda claims that a military operation was under way in Balochistan.

“I want to make it clear that there is no military operation in Balochistan and this is a wrong perception being created through well-organised propaganda which should be countered,” Maj Gen Nadeem said.

About the establishment of garrisons in various parts of the province, especially in Sui and Kohlu, he made it clear that the army has no plans to establish new cantonments as per the decision of the provincial government.

He said public support is crucial for any army and the “army is nothing without the support of the people.” Speaking about a solution to the Balochistan issue, Maj Gen Nadeem said the “army wants a political solution to the issue” and only dialogue and debate could pave the way for such a solution.

About the role of Frontier Corps (FC), he said the paramilitary force always followed the direction of the provincial government and made it clear that the FC was not involved in the missing persons issue.

“Majority of the names on the missing persons’ list are in Farari camps, some of them have been jailed in Afghanistan due to their criminal activities and some others are also reportedly in Afghanistan,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18th, 2012.

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Reader Comments (11)

  • Mirza
    Jul 18, 2012 - 10:23AM

    We have full faith in the denials of our generals. They have never lied about anything before in our history. From Zia’s 90 days election promise to opening his chest (Tiger Niazi) in front of tanks, to no terrorist in Pakistan especially OBL, to a charge sheet against the SC CJ and the list goes on. If they deny then it must be true. Let us decide who is lying here, the generals or SC CJ who has held FC responsible for murders? Now there is no contempt of SC when the CJ is hearing the case and generals are denying him?

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  • Nasir Mahmood
    Jul 18, 2012 - 11:13AM

    If this is true why Lashkar Raisani the brother of the CM left the ruling party?

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  • A J Khan
    Jul 18, 2012 - 12:02PM

    I agree with the claim of DG MO. There is no military operation in Balochistan. I live in the area and I have not seen any army soldier or their guns and tanks any where other than the cantonments.
    I am also surprised by the policy on the establishment of garrisons in various parts of the province. Why shouldn’t cantonments made in Sui and Kohlu and else where in Balochistan. Will they go to Iran or Afghanistan to seek accommodation?
    Cantonments should be established wherever there is a need from military perspective based on threat analysis. Appeasement of the terrorist is never the solution.
    We the people of Balochistan are not the slaves of three run away Baloch Sardars.

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  • Ajman
    Jul 18, 2012 - 12:19PM

    I believe in what Army is saying here.

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  • anwar
    Jul 18, 2012 - 12:36PM

    u better double check.. could be uncle sam in disguise

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  • Shah
    Jul 18, 2012 - 4:28PM

    @A J Khan:

    its long time that i have meet a Balochi with this preception..Brother we are with you…for the progress of Balochistan and of Pakistan feudal lords have to be countered, either they are in Sindh, Punjab or Balochistan.

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  • Uzair Javaid
    Jul 18, 2012 - 4:50PM

    @Mirza: and people like you who are so-called democracy supporters, why cant you remember the promises made repeatedly by Raja Rental regarding the power cut issue? why dont you forget Rehman Malik’s promises regarding unveiling the names of those involved in BB’s murder. The pathetic you and the pathetic indoctrinated mindset you have

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  • Butt
    Jul 18, 2012 - 5:00PM

    @A J Khan: So you being a Baloch today, you agree or disagree with CJ about the missing persons?

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  • Pakistani Baloch
    Jul 18, 2012 - 5:03PM

    @Mirza: Bollocks! absolute ridiculous. Have you gone totally absurd, first you never seem to be a Pakistan as i suspect you are just another indian trolling here. Secondly people like who are mind freaked by the corrupt traitor anchors always forget what politicians are doing to this country by blaming everything at the Army. I am a Baloch and lived all my life here, i respect the army and support their cause for their establishments here. We all know here that those who are found dead is the work of Brahmdagh bugti’s artwork and with him are other traitors as well known as Marri.

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  • Captain Omer
    Jul 18, 2012 - 5:11PM

    @Shah: Absolutely. We are watching things monitoring everything from a distance as this is what has been created courtesy the Media. We have never killed a Pakistani but definitely keep our eyes on traitors who are paid from Afghanistan. AJ Khan is one of countless True Balochi people who know that its the feudals and self proclaimed warlords like Brahamdag who are funded from india, USa and the UAE.

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  • Xnain
    Jul 19, 2012 - 12:42PM

    @Mirza:
    Mirza sahib we cannot and should not separate out the military leadership from the the overall political history. The military is not run by angles but rather human beings. So to consider that generals lied should rather be taken whatsoever they did was in their own interests (like politicians). Is judiciary a almighty, free to act body of state? it is not! Judiciary and executive go hand in hand, the problem with judiciary is that both the branches of executive (i.e. Government as well as Military) see their interest in a non cooperative behavior. The problem for SC not being able to push upon military is that while given the threat of military moving against the government on SC request is a credible threat to everlingering government, the threat that government would support SC against a stand on military is not a credible threat for military (which is evident till now). However, using its legislative power, the government keeps evading SC’s decision by ammending the laws in its favor.Furthermore, there hasn’t been any concrete statement by the government that it supported or endorsed SC’s writ. Things are not as simple as people precieve them to be, the weakness of government is not only exposing itself but also compromising the indiscriminate application of rule of law.

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