Balochistan to figure ahead of other issues under new security policy

Decision taken in the wake of the Ziarat incident where militants blew up Quaid's residency.

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Friday while issuing special directives to the military forces decided to put Balochistan on top of the "primacy" list of new national security policy which was announced by Nawaz Sharif, shortly after assuming office as Prime Minister.

The decision was taken in the wake of the incident where militants blew up the Quaid-e-Azam residency in Ziarat which had been declared a national heritage.

The spokesperson of the federal government stated that the government will do everything to ensure accountability across the board so that the Balochistan government is provided support and action is taken against those responsible for the incident in Ziarat.

The government was specific in its directions with respect to Balochistan but sources told The Express Tribune that PM Sharif will also take important measures so that peace prevails in Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B).

Sources said that the prime minister is not in favour of deploying military contingents everywhere but is holding detailed talks with the security and intelligence forces so that militancy in the region is countered.

The central policy will have a Balochistan-specific element to it and the national security policy would clearly define ways to counter militancy operating in the province, sources said.

The prime minister stated that the military is free to give recommendations and that the federal government would extend every possible support to them in implementing tough decisions, sources added.

A senior official from the Cabinet Division said that if the federal government would honestly implement its plans on Balochistan, they are definitely going to find favour amongst the locals.

"Baloch are not against the federation but they want to get rid of the terrorism, foreign conspiracies, sectarian violence, corruption, supremacy of Sardars and deprivation," the official added.

The government officials criticized the earlier government for restoring the Balochistan levies force in 2010 which was earlier disbanded, who they claimed had been involved in illegal activities in the province.

One of the military heads serving in Balochistan, said on condition of anonymity that the issues of the province are quite different to how they are portrayed in the media.

He said that Junollah, Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and other militant fractions have been fighting to segregate Balochistan and are supported by foreign agencies.

The official hoped that the new government would do something to ensure prosperity of the Baloch and would take strict measures against militant groups operating in the region.