High-value target

Founder of Baloch National Army was reportedly zeroed in after a carefully planned operation spread over months

The netting of a high-profile fugitive of a banned entity by the armed forces is a shot in the arm in an anti-terror drive. Founder of Baloch National Army (BNA) Gulzar Imam, alias Shambay, was reportedly zeroed in after a carefully planned operation spread over months. His capture will come with impetus and valuable information on the impugned nexus, which allegedly enjoys linkages with hostile intelligence agencies, especially Afghan and Indian. The importance of this operation can be gauged from the fact that it was a foreword at the recent National Security Committee meeting, and drew heaps of praise. Buoyed with the success, the civil and military leadership reiterated to further the anti-terrorism operation countryside, and spare none who are up against the state, either in the form of abettors, sleeping cells or active insurgents. Gulzar’s arrest has confirmed beyond doubt the capability and capacity of Pakistani security forces to go after the dreaded elements with meticulous intelligence, as well as boots on the ground.

Gulzar is one among the many who are part of the hardcore militants in Balochistan. While he had been on the run and in cahoots with other insurgents, such as Brahamdagh Bugti of the condemned Baloch Republican Army, and its offshoot the United Baloch Army, his arrest is an immense success. It will surely serve as a tip-off in intruding deeply into the terror mosaic of the province and beyond, and help in exterminating hardcore militants. These terror units are inevitably part of several crisscrosses between elements operating inside the desolate province, as well as the TTP at large on both sides of the Durand Line.

While the country has been home to a renewed wave of sabotage activities, especially against the armed forces and Chinese interests, Gulzar and big fish like him will have a lot to reveal in connecting the dots. Keeping aside the gun-trotting successes, Balochistan desires a severe political approach to settle the dust of suspicion and bring on board people who have legitimate concerns to address.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2023.

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