No military operation in tribal areas, Balochistan: Pak minister
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, March 21, IRNA
Pakistan-Tribal areas-Operation
The Pakistani government in the Senate on Monday denied any military operation was underway in Balochistan or Waziristan.
Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao, winding up a two-day debate in the house on the Balochistan and Waziristan situation, denied any military ocperation was continuing, saying only security forces were engaged in dealing with miscreants and foreign terrorists.
He made it clear that there would be no talks with foreign terrorists but that the government was ready for dialogue with local elements.
"Yes, there have been some collateral damages during the action in tribal areas. But we are focused against terrorists. We can't spare a mosque or a seminary if its compound hides terrorists or weapons," he made it clear.
The minister said that in three months 47 civilians had been killed, 165 rockets fired and 46 bombs exploded in Balochistan alone.
He, moreover, said that the military action was focused in the Kohlu and Dera Bugti areas of Balochistan.
Sherpao said that after 9/11 scores of terrorists crossed into Pakistan from Afghanistan and were holed up in North and South Waziristan, engaging in terrorists acts and forcing the government to take action against them.
/2023/235/2321/1414
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
