QUETTA: Two days after a deadly bombing in Mastung that claimed more than 50 lives, Caretaker Information Minister of Balochistan Jan Achakzai said on Sunday “enough is enough” and declared an all-out war against terrorists.
On Friday, a suicide bomber ripped through a procession celebrating the birth of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) on 12 Rabiul Awwal in Mastung, killing a police officer, religious leaders, and children among dozens with the casualties figure at 59.
However, no militant group has claimed responsibility for the explosion, prompting claims from the government that the Indian intelligence agency, RAW, was involved. The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) distanced itself from the carnage in a statement. The Counter-Terrorism Department lodged a case against unidentified persons.
مستونگ واقعے میں ملوث عناصر کو کیفر کردار تک پہنچایا جائے گا, بلوچستان کو امن کا گہوارہ بنانے کا تہیہ کیا ہے۔ پاکستان کی عوام اور فورسز کے تعاون سے دہشتگردی کا خاتمہ یقینی بنایا جائے گا۔ بلوچستان کا مستقبل روشن و خوشحال دیکھ رہا ہوں۔ سائنس اینڈ ٹیکنالوجی کو فروغ دینا وقت کی اہم… pic.twitter.com/8vmPhpcpHU
— Jan Achakzai / جان اچکزئی (@Jan_Achakzai) October 1, 2023
A day earlier, Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir had said terrorists and facilitators behind the attacks on 12 Rabiul Awwal were proxies of the enemies of the country and its people.
Military Operation in Balochistan
During a press conference in Quetta today, Jan Achakzai was asked about a possible grand operation after terrorist attacks in Balochistan. In his response, Achakzai said he could not comment on that but reassured reporters that the state would defend each and every inch of its territory and carry out intelligence-based operations if needed.
The minister said terrorist incidents were occurring in all of the country on a daily basis and it has a set pattern, raising questions about why these attacks were only happening in Pakistan and not other countries in the region.
He said that this means there is a mastermind behind it who is systematically destabilizing Pakistan. Enough is enough. Now there will be no concession or appeasement. He further said that Pakistan’s resolve is very important. The government will go after the Mastung attack’s masterminds and the lynchpins managing all these proxies.
He said the state’s resolve to combat terrorism was strengthened by 100% after the Mastung attack, adding that the state was ready to go to any extent if needed.
