RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited Quetta on Wednesday and met families of the victims of the recent terrorist attack in Mach, said a press release of the Inter-Services Public Relations.

Gen Bajwa was given a security briefing at the HQ of Southern Command and interacted with a group of members of Hazara community, the press release said.

At the HQ of Southern Command, the army chief was apprised of prevailing security challenges in Baloch­istan and the measures taken to deal with them, including border management along the Pak-Afghan and Pak-Iran borders.

Gen Bajwa spent some time with bereaved families of the slain coal miners and shared their grief.

The COAS assured them that perpetrators of this heinous act shall be brought to justice and blood of the martyrs would not go to waste.

Later, the army chief addressed garrison officers and appreciated their preparedness and efforts for ensuring peace and stability in the province despite difficulties of terrain and distances involved, said the press release.

“Balochistan is in sharp focus of our enemies due to its strategic potential,” the COAS said, adding that “Balochistan is the future of Pakistan and progress and prosperity of the province is the progress of the country”.

“The disruptive efforts by hostile forces won’t be allowed to succeed,” Gen Bajwa said.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2021