ISLAMABAD, Feb 5: The government is likely to announce shortly a comprehensive package for Balochistan in line with the parliamentary committee's recommendations and keeping in view both the political reforms and resource-sharing demands of Baloch leaders, sources told Dawn on Saturday.

Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on Saturday held a meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to brief him about his findings after his visit to Balochistan and proposals to meet the challenge of insurgency there.

The sources said that the interior minister stressed upon accelerating the process of political reconciliation in Balochistan as things were deteriorating with each passing day. The intelligence reports confirmed involvement of Indian agencies in the escalation of hostilities there.

Mr Sherpao said he had held meetings with all the heads of security agencies, including the corps commander of Balochistan and put questions to them as to what was the source of heavy weapons and rockets supply that were fired by miscreants.

The premier was informed about the foreign forces' role in creating distrust and fuelling insurgency, the sources said.

The two discussed various aspects of the package that the government was in process of preparing before a political reconciliation was achieved.

Former prime minister and president of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain has expressed the confidence that he will be able to resume contacts with the Baloch leaders. He is particularly optimistic about an early meeting with Nawab Akbar Bugti.

Mr Bugti had refused an early meeting with the parliamentary committee on the grounds that it was powerless to offer anything in the bargain.

The prime minister reiterated the government's resolve to tackle the Balochistan crisis in a spirit of understanding, adding that the government was also determined to protect national installations at all costs.

The minister also discussed with the prime minister the security arrangements which the government had taken for the holy month of Moharram.

Mr Aziz directed Mr Sherpao to take all precautionary measures to ensure security of the people as well as sanctity of the holy month. The latter informed the former about steps the ministry of interior was initiating in cooperation with the provincial governments.

The prime minister expressed satisfaction at the adoption of a new visa policy which, he said, will help promote trade and investment in the country.