Insurgency has ended in Balochistan, says Lt-Gen Aamer Riaz

Says maintaining peace vital for progress of the province

QUETTA: Commander Southern Command, Lt-Gen Aamer Riaz has said that the widespread wave of insurgency in Balochistan has ebbed and only some pockets remain where militants were active.

“There is no insurgency in Balochistan, but a bit of misguided militancy,” he said addressing the media at the Southern Command Headquarters on Thursday.



“I will extend the efforts of former commander southern command, Lt-Gen (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua to maintain peace and order and to contribute development process in the province,” Lt Gen Aamer Riaz said adding that efforts would be made to remove hindrances in development of Balochistan.



“We will have to provide investment-friendly environment in Balochistan and also secure the development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor,” the commander said.

On regional and global issues, Lt Gen Aamer Riaz, in reply to a question, said: “Chinese influence in the region will lead to rebalance of power in the world and Pakistan will be a great beneficiary of this rebalance of powers.”



He said that China has become the largest economy and Pakistan, particularly its province of Balochistan would benefit from the implementation of mega projects like CPEC and Gwadar Deep Sea Port.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2015.