Security forces across the province are having a great deal of success in their search operations, officials say.
By Abdul Ghani Kakar
3 December 2013
QUETTA – Security forces in Balochistan are continuing to put pressure on militant and criminal networks in order to bring peace and stability to the province, officials told Central Asia Online December 1.
Police and Frontier Corps (FC) personnel November 14 inspect captured bullets on display outside FC headquarters in Quetta. Authorities recovered the ammo during a search operation in Qila Abdullah. [Abdul Ghani Kakar]
Police and others are responding quickly and are working to prevent further violence, Balochistan government spokesman Jan Mohammad Buledi told Central Asia Online. With terrorist groups targeting public places, the crackdown is essential to establishing law and order, he added.
"It is our duty to curb terrorism, and we will continue to meet all our fast-moving deadlines to ensure peace and stability," Frontier Corps (FC) Inspector General for Balochistan Maj. Gen. Ejaz Shahid told tribal elders in Duki November 24. "We won't allow anyone to disturb peace for his own agenda."
Security forces patrol Liaqat Bazaar in Quetta November 14. They have gone on high alert to quell rising violence in the city. [Abdul Ghani Kakar]
Operations succeeding
Several operations are hitting their intended targets and generating the success the government wanted, authorities say. Security forces November 5-23 arrested 69 suspects in connection with charges of terrorist activities and seized heavy weapons in the Mastung, Bolan, Turbat, Gwadar and Dera Bugti areas, officials said.
They killed 13 suspects in shootouts that erupted during those searches. One of the dead suspects in a November 23 gunfight in the Lehri Sibi area was a suspected high-profile militant commander, FC spokesman Khan Wasey told Central Asia Online.
During the crackdown, troops in Sibi District broke up a militant camp responsible for attacks on passenger trains and other targets in Lehri, Dera Murad Jamali and other parts of Naseerabad Division, he added.
The FC November 9 foiled a terrorist plot by arresting four suspects and seizing weapons, ammunition and explosives on the outskirts of Quetta.
"The recovered weapons and supplies included improvised explosive devices, sub-machine guns, rockets, light machine guns, GPS systems, walkie-talkie sets, long-range telescopes, a compass, other weapons, 99.5m IRR (US $4,000) and counterfeit Pakistani currency ostensibly worth Rs. 200,000 (US $1,800)," he said.
Seeking public help
Even with their achievements so far, security forces are asking for public help.
"Arrangements have been made in Quetta and other towns of the province to curb terrorism, but the people must co-operate in the ongoing search operations," Wasey said.
The provincial government instructed property owners in various areas of Quetta to avoid letting out-of-towners or individuals who haven't registered with local police rent flats, houses and shops, and security forces November 10 arrested 15 Quetta property dealers in connection with charges of renting to illegal immigrants, Muhammad Ishaq, a senior security official, said.
"We are working to halt the entry of illegal immigrants into Quetta because a large number of them are engaged in terrorist activities," he said. "There are several violent groups operating under the cover of refugees."
"Snap checking in Quetta and other parts of the province is under way, and extra security has been deployed to foil any terrorist plots," he added.
Staying one step ahead of militants
Recent deadly bombings in Quetta bazaars confirm that the terrorists have adjusted their tactics, senior Pakistani defence and security analyst Prof. Hasan Askari Rizvi told Central Asia Online.
To counter the tactics, the government needs to be pro-active in countering threats by militant groups, he said.
"Terrorists and other criminals are well-trained and equipped with the latest technology, but the Balochistan Police and Levies Force still lack such advanced equipment," he said. "The provincial and federal governments must equip the provincial police and Levies Force with the latest technology and weapons."
"We are working on a new strategy to provide special anti-terrorism training to Levies Force personnel so they can better meet the security needs in tribal areas," Balochistan Senior Information Minister Abdul Rahim Ziartwal told Central Asia Online.
Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif November 8, during a visit to the quake-stricken Awaran area of Balochistan, also affirmed Islamabad's commitment to uprooting terrorism.
Balochistan crackdown on militants, criminals continues - Central Asia Online
By Abdul Ghani Kakar
3 December 2013
QUETTA – Security forces in Balochistan are continuing to put pressure on militant and criminal networks in order to bring peace and stability to the province, officials told Central Asia Online December 1.
Police and Frontier Corps (FC) personnel November 14 inspect captured bullets on display outside FC headquarters in Quetta. Authorities recovered the ammo during a search operation in Qila Abdullah. [Abdul Ghani Kakar]
Police and others are responding quickly and are working to prevent further violence, Balochistan government spokesman Jan Mohammad Buledi told Central Asia Online. With terrorist groups targeting public places, the crackdown is essential to establishing law and order, he added.
"It is our duty to curb terrorism, and we will continue to meet all our fast-moving deadlines to ensure peace and stability," Frontier Corps (FC) Inspector General for Balochistan Maj. Gen. Ejaz Shahid told tribal elders in Duki November 24. "We won't allow anyone to disturb peace for his own agenda."
Security forces patrol Liaqat Bazaar in Quetta November 14. They have gone on high alert to quell rising violence in the city. [Abdul Ghani Kakar]
Operations succeeding
Several operations are hitting their intended targets and generating the success the government wanted, authorities say. Security forces November 5-23 arrested 69 suspects in connection with charges of terrorist activities and seized heavy weapons in the Mastung, Bolan, Turbat, Gwadar and Dera Bugti areas, officials said.
They killed 13 suspects in shootouts that erupted during those searches. One of the dead suspects in a November 23 gunfight in the Lehri Sibi area was a suspected high-profile militant commander, FC spokesman Khan Wasey told Central Asia Online.
During the crackdown, troops in Sibi District broke up a militant camp responsible for attacks on passenger trains and other targets in Lehri, Dera Murad Jamali and other parts of Naseerabad Division, he added.
The FC November 9 foiled a terrorist plot by arresting four suspects and seizing weapons, ammunition and explosives on the outskirts of Quetta.
"The recovered weapons and supplies included improvised explosive devices, sub-machine guns, rockets, light machine guns, GPS systems, walkie-talkie sets, long-range telescopes, a compass, other weapons, 99.5m IRR (US $4,000) and counterfeit Pakistani currency ostensibly worth Rs. 200,000 (US $1,800)," he said.
Seeking public help
Even with their achievements so far, security forces are asking for public help.
"Arrangements have been made in Quetta and other towns of the province to curb terrorism, but the people must co-operate in the ongoing search operations," Wasey said.
The provincial government instructed property owners in various areas of Quetta to avoid letting out-of-towners or individuals who haven't registered with local police rent flats, houses and shops, and security forces November 10 arrested 15 Quetta property dealers in connection with charges of renting to illegal immigrants, Muhammad Ishaq, a senior security official, said.
"We are working to halt the entry of illegal immigrants into Quetta because a large number of them are engaged in terrorist activities," he said. "There are several violent groups operating under the cover of refugees."
"Snap checking in Quetta and other parts of the province is under way, and extra security has been deployed to foil any terrorist plots," he added.
Staying one step ahead of militants
Recent deadly bombings in Quetta bazaars confirm that the terrorists have adjusted their tactics, senior Pakistani defence and security analyst Prof. Hasan Askari Rizvi told Central Asia Online.
To counter the tactics, the government needs to be pro-active in countering threats by militant groups, he said.
"Terrorists and other criminals are well-trained and equipped with the latest technology, but the Balochistan Police and Levies Force still lack such advanced equipment," he said. "The provincial and federal governments must equip the provincial police and Levies Force with the latest technology and weapons."
"We are working on a new strategy to provide special anti-terrorism training to Levies Force personnel so they can better meet the security needs in tribal areas," Balochistan Senior Information Minister Abdul Rahim Ziartwal told Central Asia Online.
Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif November 8, during a visit to the quake-stricken Awaran area of Balochistan, also affirmed Islamabad's commitment to uprooting terrorism.
Balochistan crackdown on militants, criminals continues - Central Asia Online
