ISLAMABAD, April 4: Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani urged all political forces in Balochistan on Thursday to take part in the elections and pledged to provide safe and secure environment for polls in the restive province.

“Army will wholeheartedly welcome an all-inclusive election. The COAS emphasised the need for participation by all political parties in the May elections,” a military spokesman said after meetings between Gen Kayani and Balochistan Governor Zulfiqar Magsi and Caretaker Chief Minister Ghous Bakhsh Barozai.

Gen Kayani’s meetings with the provincial leadership were focused on the holding of elections and the security situation in the province. Through his message, he attempted to assuage the concerns of the Baloch nationalists, who have accused the army of being averse to their participation in electoral process.

The unprecedented move by the army chief to visit the province and personally appeal to the nationalist groups to take part in the polls comes against the backdrop of the 2008 election boycott by the Balochistan National Party, Pakhtunkhawa Milli Awami Party, National Party and Jamhoori Watan Party.

These parties have already announced their participation in the May 11 polls and fielded their candidates, though they have expressed security concerns.

BNP-M Chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal, who returned to the country recently to lead his party in the elections, had in a letter to the Chief Election Commission mentioned his apprehensions and threats to his party. He had claimed that his party faced threats from the establishment – a euphemism for the military.

Nationalist groups’ decision to participate in the elections, meanwhile, has irked armed separatist groups – Balochistan Republican Army and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), who have announced their plans to carry out attacks for disrupting the elections.

District Election Commissioner in Quetta Ziaullah Qasmi was killed on March 12 in an attack claimed by the BLA.

Speaking over phone, the military spokesman said the army was ready to do everything, including provision of security for ensuring wider participation in the elections.

Gen Kayani committed to providing more troops to meet security needs in the province.

The army chief has asked Governor Magsi and Chief Minister Barozai to act as bridge between the centre and Baloch nationalists.

Analysts believe that Mr Mengal’s return to the country and decision against boycotting the polls was a result of back-channel contacts.

It was unclear what the army intended to offer or has offered to nationalist groups to address their concerns, which mostly pertain to operations by law enforcement agencies in troubled parts of the province.

The military spokesman said the army had done its part and it was now up to the political leadership to do the rest.