Defense Minister urges large-scale troop deployment in Balochistan

Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on Monday that Pakistan had to deploy a large number of troops in Balochistan due to the vast geography of the province amid the dire security situation and recent spate of attacks.

The statement comes after a series of coordinated attacks in several locations in Balochistan that took place a day earlier. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), 92 terrorists were killed as security forces repelled the attacks across the province on Saturday, while 15 security personnel were also martyred in action.

“Indian Sponsored Terrorists Fitna al-Hindustan tried to disrupt the peace in Balochistan by carrying out several terrorist activities around Quetta, Mastung, Nushki, Dalbandin, Kharan, Panjgur, Tump, Gwadar and Pasni,” ISPR said in a statement on Saturday. Security sources today said 22 more terrorists were killed during the night’s follow-up operations with the latest number of terrorists killed over the past three days bringing the total number of terrorists killed over the past three days to 177.

Speaking in the National Assembly (NA) on the matter, Asif said: “Balochistan constitutes over 40% of Pakistan geographically… controlling it is very difficult than a populated city or area and it needs deployment of massive forces. Our troops are stationed there and are in action against them (terrorists), but they are physically handicapped and patrolling such a large area.”

The defense minister said the government was tightening enforcement to curb smuggling, sparking a major protest at the Chaman border. He said some people argue that the state should negotiate with nationalist movements, but argued that the protest movement was driven by commercial interests rather than politics or nationalism.

Alleging that smugglers used to earn up to Rs 4 billion a day from oil smuggling, Asif said the agitation was aimed at recovering business losses.

He also alleged that criminal groups operated under the banner of the banned terrorist group Baloch Liberation Army and provided protection to smugglers, saying, “In Balochistan, the tribal elders, the bureaucracy and those running separatist movements have formed a nexus.”

Asif said 177 terrorists had been killed in the last two days, while 16 security personnel and 33 civilians were killed.

In today’s session, prayers were offered for those who were martyred in the latest spate of terror attacks and Speaker Ayaz Sadiq also paid tribute to them.

Speaking to reporters in his hometown of Sialkot a day ago, Asif had said that Pakistan’s findings showed that “all links point towards India” in the recent attacks across Balochistan, which were claimed by the BLA.

He said the BLA “is an internationally recognized terrorist organization and banned internationally”, adding that it seeks to maintain its visibility “to get foreign funding from India”. He said the group had carried out attacks on civilians, including kidnappings of civilians and government employees.

TTAP condemns terrorism in Balochistan

Earlier in the day, the opposition coalition Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Aeen Pakistan (TTAP) also condemned terrorism in Balochistan and expressed grief over the deaths of security personnel and civilians, calling the violence a sign of deeper insecurity in the province.

In a statement on X, TTAP offered its condolences to the families of those killed and said it stood in solidarity with both security forces and civilians affected by the attack. It said the scale of violence constituted a complete failure of the provincial government and law enforcement agencies.

“It shows how limited the legal requirement has become in the province and that citizens’ lives and property have no protection,” the statement said.

TTAP also criticized the provincial administration, saying: “How long will we continue to turn a blind eye to the fact that a Balochistan government that lacks public support is only concerned with prolonging its rule, not with people’s lives.”

It said terrorism could only be confronted by a government and system whose “moral standing” was not in doubt.

The statement added: “Then they say that free and fair elections and representative governments are the solution – not rulers and systems imposed against the will of the people.”