Targeting militants: Balochistan operation commences today

15-day action to start in nine of the most disrupted districts in province, says home secretary.

QUETTA:

Balochistan Home Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani has said that a 15-day targeted operation by the army and Frontier Corps against the armed militants will commence today (May 1) in different parts of the province.

“It can be launched anytime and anywhere,” he told The Express Tribune on Tuesday, and added, “We will take every necessary step to provide a safe, secure and conducive political atmosphere for politicians, election contenders, political workers and voters.”

The operation will be taken against all proscribed organisations, including the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), the Balochistan Republican Army (BRA), the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLA), the United Baloch Army (UBA), the Lashkar-e-Balochistan (LB) and “all those who are involved in subversive activities to sabotage the election process,” Durrani said.

The operation will initially take place in nine districts where voters have been or are being threatened by militants. These districts are Turbat, Makran, Gwadar, Punjgor, Kalat, Kharan, Washuk, Awaran and Khuzdar.

Militants will also be targeted in the provincial capital, Quetta, and other places where they are active, including Bolan and Mustung.

The district administrations have already identified the militants and their hideouts. “Not a single militant will be spared by May 11,” Durrani further said, adding that arrests would be made and bullets will also be fired during the targeted action

The districts of Kalat and Khuzdar are the most volatile regions in Balochistan, where election candidates have been subjected to attacks during the last month, and the provincial government has accused BLA and BLF of launching subversive activities in those two particular areas.

Regarding the reason behind the poor law and order situation in the two districts, Durrani said, “It’s a power game. Many heavyweight candidates are in the running from these districts, and some are aspiring to be the next chief minister of the province.”

The home secretary further claimed that all nationalist parties also consider the targeted operation a necessary step to build voters’ confidence.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 1^st, 2013.