'India is behind these attacks': Naqvi vows to go after every terrorist in Balochistan violence

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday directly held India responsible for the recent attacks in Balochistan, alleging that New Delhi was involved in planning and backing the incidents and vowing to expose what he described as its role before the international community.

At least 92 terrorists were killed as security forces fought off a series of coordinated attacks at multiple locations across Balochistan today, with 15 security personnel also martyred in combat. With the latest fatalities, the number of terrorists killed over the past two days has risen to 133.

The brazen, in-synch attacks were carried out by hordes of heavily-armed terrorists in 12 cities, including Quetta, Noshki, Dalbandin, Kalat, Gwadar, Pasni, Tump and Mastung. Security sources said “Fitna al-Hindustan” — a blanket term used by officials for outlawed Baloch terrorist groups — was behind the deadly assaults, which came a day after the military claimed it had killed 41 terrorists in two targeted operations in Panjgur and Shaban areas of Balochistan.

In a video statement released alongside Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, the interior minister said the manner in which the attacks were planned and carried out, as well as the response by the police, Frontier Corps (FC) and the Pakistan Army, reflected the scale and seriousness of the threat.

“Behind every attack, there is a story. The way our soldiers defended themselves and the way the terrorists were hunted down shows that none of them managed to escape,” he said, adding that the attackers had been neutralised so that no one could get away.

Naqvi praised the role of CM Bugti, describing him as courageous and saying his leadership from the front had boosted the morale of security forces.

The interior minister paid tribute to the FC, police and the army for confronting what he termed terrorism, saying it was important for the world to understand that these were not “ordinary terrorists” while reiterating his allegation that India was behind the attacks.

“India is behind these attacks. I can say with certainty that India planned them along with these terrorists,” he said, adding that authorities would pursue all those involved and leave no one unaccountable.

He said that the authorities had almost all the information about the masterminds of the attack and the locations from where they are operating. "We will expose them to the world — the face with which they meet people publicly and the face with which they support terrorists," Naqvi said.

He alleged that India was providing financial support to militants as well as assistance in planning and strategy. Still, he expressed confidence that such efforts would be defeated, as they had been in the past.

Reaffirming the resolve to eliminate terrorism, Naqvi said the federation and the provinces would act together against militancy. Referring to CM Bugti, he said the chief minister would be able to state that terrorism in the province had been decisively dealt with.

CM Bugti thanked the interior minister and said that upon learning of the incident, he had immediately travelled to Quetta, where a high-level meeting was held and visits were made to the Combined Military Hospital to inquire after the injured.