Troops ride to areas in Balochistan affected by an earthquake in military trucks in Karachi on September 25, 2013. PHOTO: AFP
The landmine was planted on the roadside and exploded when the soldiers were busy in relief work.
This is not the first instance when violence has come in the way of relief work.
On September 27, militants fired on a helicopter carrying relief goods to Mashkai.
The helicopter of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Chairman Major General Muhammad Saeed Aleem was also targeted with rockets on September 26, while it was on its way to Mashkai for earthquake relief work. Major General Aleem remained unhurt in the attack.
Earthquake
The first earthquake had hit Balochistan on September 24, killing at least 350 people and injuring hundreds more.
Another 7.2-magnitude quake furthered the damage when it struck the area on September 28.
A senior FC officer had said that most of the stricken places in Awaran are highly risky areas for relief workers and provincial functionaries as it is a hub of Baloch nationalist militants.
Mashkai – a sub-district of Awaran - has been under the militant command of nationalist guerrilla commander, Dr Allah Nazar who has been confronting the FC and Pakistan Army for a long time.
COMMENTS (13)
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These cowards are not even Muslims, that they target fellow Muslims and preach ethnic hatred against Pukhtoons, Punjabis, and other Baloch tribes. They should be caught and executed after a public trial so the world can see how full of hatred and far from Islam they have become. We should also find out and expose all their foreign backers.
The terrorists have no sympathy with the people suffering from these devastating earthquakes. The soldiers were on their way to help people who have lost everything in these natural disasters. It is the most despicable act of cowardice and most condemnable. We send our prayers and condolences to the brave soldiers’ families. The enemy has just one agenda is death and destruction. We need to stand united to help those who are suffering from the earthquake. The terrorists knows that their time is limited as the people of the entire region have rejected them with overwhelm majority.
Abdul Quddus DET-United States Central Command,
@Aschraful Makhlooq..why no army operation in punjab...against punjabi talibans and other criminals...or they don"t want to do operation against its own people...
so much mistrust against the army....
COAS is requested to review the situation. Militancy in earthquake affected areas is putting the lives of populace in danger & the sufferings are multiplying. Please take action against terrorists and free the people from their clutches. We cannot go out to get medicines, bedding, or create a shelter for our children Judiciary should also review its early position of supporting militants from the comforts of courts & visit the earthquake affected areas to realise the perils created bu militancy. If nothing works then we need a COAS who can take a stand and not wilt under pressure from politicians, media, judiciary or Militants.
Jihad in Kashmiiir !!!!
A military search operation in the selected Balochistan's areas like Swat and Karachi has been necessary and need of the hour after the rehabilitation work in the earthquake effected areas because how much more Balochi militants have been cruel that they are not understanding,feeling and seeing the Allah Almighty's greatest ever disaster and calamity in Balochistan and how shamelessly and shamefully still attacking on army's officials on the directions of foreign powers,instead of joining hands with them for betterment and welfare of the effected people,who are working selfless for the rehabilitation of earthquake affectees.........
How pathetic; what do these so-called freedom fighters wish to achieve? More misery for those they want to liberate! At this critical juncture, is it too much to expect some humanity? BLF should be spearheading the relief efforts rather than sabotaging it.
All the more reason to continue the aid, to change the minds of the people. Yet these attacks on relief workers are still disgusting.
Please give them 'freedom from life', they don't deserve any of it. Killing those who are there to help, this happens when you let society at the mercy of sardars.
Inna Lillahe Wa Inna Ilaihe Rajeoon. RIP brave ones. Salams Pakistan is caught in a very dirty and sticky cobweb of deceit, terror, militancy, poverty, mistrust, corruption, national debt, and a political system that is doing no good at all. Is it a losing battle or is it in a redefining stage? No Russian Roulette here, please. Salams
It looks like the earthquake has made the position of these terrorists desperate. The army should effectively use the current situation to wipe out these terrorists.