Rashid warns of surge in terror attacks

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has warned against further increase in terrorist attacks across the country.

It is worth mentioning here that the past week witnessed multiple terrorist attacks on the country’s security forces in various parts of Balochistan.

Rashid said that Pakistan’s defence is in safe hands. “We did not create these bombs to use them on Diwali or Shab-e-Barat,” he said, adding that any move to destabilise the country would be dealt with iron hands.

Addressing a political gathering in Rawalpindi in connection with Kashmir Day, the interior minister referred to the talks between the Government of Pakistan and the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), saying that while he did not want to comment on that, there was a possibility of an increase in terrorist attacks.

Talking about Kashmir, Rashid said that “Pakistan is incomplete without Kashmir”. He said that Pakistan wants occupied Kashmir’s independence. He added that the Muslims of Kashmir were not the only ones looking towards Pakistan as Muslims in India are oppressed as well. He pointed out that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) does not give any tickets to Muslims in India.

The interior minister expressed sympathy with the Muslims of India. He said that today’s Pakistan is not the Pakistan of 1965 and 1970, and if India wants any adventure, it should bring forth its army.

He said that the Indian media only criticises him and Prime Minister Imran Khan. “I want martyrdom along with Pakistan Army, and the army is defeating the forces that are harming this country,” he added.

He also said that Pakistan is united on the Kashmir issue and would not abandon the brethren in occupied Kashmir. “Kashmir is Pakistan’s jugular vein and freedom is the fundamental right of the people of occupied Kashmir which cannot be denied by anybody,” he added.

Rashid also commented on Pakistan’s relations with the Afghan Taliban, saying that both parties have good relations. He said that the “success of Afghan Taliban is the success of Pakistan”.

“The Taliban fought a war for 20 years and liberated themselves,” he added.

During his address, the interior minister also took the opposition to task, saying that Prime Minister Imran is lucky to get an incompetent opposition.

He said that organising protest rallies is opposition’s right and the government would not create any hurdles in their way. However, the politics of corruption opposition parties would be buried soon, he added.

He also said that the government wants to end the feudal system, which only punishes the poor in this country.