GWADAR: The Commander of the Southern Command, Lt Gen Nasser Khan Janjua, has said that the process to resolve the Balochistan issue through talks is under way.

Addressing local elders and officials here on Tuesday, he said the army had been cooperating with the provincial government in its efforts to restore peace in the province.

He said steps had been taken to end unrest because development of the province was linked to peace.

He expressed the hope that after becoming functional Gwadar Port would help boost the economy of the country as well as of the province and create jobs for thousands of local youths.

Gen Janjua said implementation of agreements on major projects with China, including Gwadar Port, would lay the foundation of progress and prosperity in Balochistan.

He said “people of Balochistan are patriot and loyal to Pakistan” and they were aware of the importance of Gwadar Port for their future.

He was confident that the Baloch people would not allow ‘anti-peace elements’ to obstruct development activities in the province.

Gen Janjua said these elements killed innocent people and lost support of the masses.

He praised the Balochistan government for its efforts to maintain law and order. “The law and order situation has improved and people of Balochistan will benefit from it.”

He stressed the need for promoting trade with Iran and said that a proposal to set up a common border market was under consideration.

The commander said the Gwadar Institute of Technology was a gift from Pakistan Army. Its objective is to treat youths with technological skills and enable them to earn their livelihood in a respectable manner.

The Inspector General, Frontier Corps, Balochistan, Maj Gen Ejaz Shahid, said that a financially strong society strengthened the development process. He urged people to get their children enrolled in schools because no nation could progress without education.

He said security forces needed cooperation of local people to combat terrorism and heinous crimes.