QUETTA: Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan on Saturday said the Afghan leadership should not speak in the language of Pakistan’s enemies since “the two brotherly countries had cordial relations.”

Addressing a press conference in Quetta, the interior minister said terrorist acts inside Pakistan were being planned and executed from Afghanistan, of which Pakistan had proof.

Balochistan Chief Minister Dr. Malik Baloch and other high level officials were also present on the occasion.

“If international forces based in Afghanistan could not end terrorism, what can Pakistan do? Pakistan is not Afghanistan’s watchman.”

The interior minister said heinous terrorist attacks, including the Army Public School massacre, were planned in Afghanistan and that Pakistan had solid evidence to back this claim.

When asked about the prevailing tension between the two countries, Nisar said:

“The tension is unilateral. We are a responsible government, and soon after the army school attack, the army chief visited Kabul and shared information with the Afghan leadership.”

Responding to a question, the interior minister said there was solid proof of foreign intervention in Balochistan.

“For the first time, evidence of foreign intervention from Afghanistan, in Balochistan, Fata, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was shared with the United Nations.

“Our permanent member Dr. Maleeha Lodhi shared information of intervention with the UN,” he said, adding that more sensitive information would be share with “other countries as well.”

In response to a question about Iranian violation of Pakistani territory, Nisar said the two countries had cordial relations and that Iran had been “repeatedly asked not to violate border protocol.”

“Iran must share information with us and avoid violating our territory,” he said.

On dialogue with disgruntled Baloch leaders, the interior minister said all out efforts were being made to find a political solution of issues relating to the province.

“We are in contact with Baloch leaders and we have started a process of reconciliation in the province.”

Earlier in the day, addressing the passing-out ceremony of the 57th batch of Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan in Loralai, the interior minister vowed to secure every part of Balochistan and develop the province, saying that the security of the country was linked to the state of peace and stability in Balochistan.

“Nobody should have any misconceptions...the state will secure every inch of Balochistan and develop the province."

The future of Pakistan and Balochistan lies together, the minister asserted, adding that the security of the country was connected with peace and stability in Balochistan.

"The province will be developed and all ulterior motives of the enemy will be thwarted," vowed Nisar.

He hailed FC personnel for their sacrifices, valour and resolve to safeguard the country.

Drawing attention of the passing-out cadets, he said: “Your role is not only to fight terrorism, but also to win the hearts of the people."

“The entire world has its eyes on this region due to its resources,” he noted.

“But this land belongs to the Baloch and to Pakistan.”

He concluded his speech by paying tribute to "over 650 martyrs of the FC who laid their lives for the motherland".

“We are indebted to these brave sons of soil,” the minister said.

Pakistani security forces, striving to restore peace across the Balochistan, often engage with militants in parts of the province.

Pakistan accuses neighboring arch-rival India of sponsoring militants groups in Balochistan and other parts of country, of which it provided evidences to the United Nations (UN) secretary general during the 70th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, earlier this month.

A number of Baloch insurgents have also surrendered to the government in recent months, narrating the tale of how they were misled.

Know more: Over 400 militants surrender

Opinion

Editorial

Digital growth
Updated 25 Apr, 2024

Digital growth

Democratising digital development will catalyse a rapid, if not immediate, improvement in human development indicators for the underserved segments of the Pakistani citizenry.
Nikah rights
25 Apr, 2024

Nikah rights

THE Supreme Court recently delivered a judgement championing the rights of women within a marriage. The ruling...
Campus crackdowns
25 Apr, 2024

Campus crackdowns

WHILE most Western governments have either been gladly facilitating Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, or meekly...
Ties with Tehran
Updated 24 Apr, 2024

Ties with Tehran

Tomorrow, if ties between Washington and Beijing nosedive, and the US asks Pakistan to reconsider CPEC, will we comply?
Working together
24 Apr, 2024

Working together

PAKISTAN’S democracy seems adrift, and no one understands this better than our politicians. The system has gone...
Farmers’ anxiety
24 Apr, 2024

Farmers’ anxiety

WHEAT prices in Punjab have plummeted far below the minimum support price owing to a bumper harvest, reckless...