QUETTA: Commander of Southern Command Lt Gen Aamir Riaz on Friday alleged that India had launched an unconventional war against Pakistan and its agencies were involved in acts of terrorism in the country.

He was speaking to journalists at the press club which he visited to offer his condolence over the killing of two cameramen — Mehmood Khan of DawnNews and Shehzad Khan of Aaj TV — in Monday’s suicide bombing in Quetta which had claimed the lives of over 70 people.

Lt Gen Riaz alleged that some countries, including India, were behind acts of terrorism in Pakistan and said they were trying to create hurdles for development projects in Balochistan. Some foreign powers and their local agents are against the development of Balochistan and they are hatching conspiracies to achieve their nefarious designs. Some misguided people were playing in the hands of country’s enemies, he added.

Referring to the arrest of a RAW’s agent in Balochistan a few months ago, he said there were evidence of the Indian agency’s involvement in sabotage activities inside Pakistan. He said the arrested RAW agent had confessed during the course of interrogation that he had been involved in subversion activities in Karachi and Balochistan.

He said the purpose of such sabotage activities was to hinder the pace of development in Pakistan, particularly Balochistan where the government had launched a number of mega development projects. The commander said these mega development projects in Balochistan were very important for the economy of the country and security agencies were making joint efforts for their protection.

Lt Gen Riaz said the armed forces of the country with the help of people would foil all conspiracies against the country and urged people to get united against enemies of the country. He said peace would soon return to the country.

He vowed to provide all possible help to the families of two slain cameramen.

The commander said the purpose of his visit to the press club was to express solidarity with journalists and offer his condolence over the killing of their two colleagues.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2016