Army brass urges people-centric uplift in Balochistan

Express Tribune

05-02-2025

RAWALPINDI:
The top military brass on Tuesday underscored the need for accelerating people-centric socioeconomic development initiatives in Balochistan, recognising the urgency of countering externally-driven narratives of exclusion.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir presided over the 267th Corps Commanders' Conference at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The forum undertook a comprehensive review of the regional and internal security landscape, assessing the full spectrum of threats, the military said.
According to a news release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the military, the meeting vowed to foil nefarious designs of the foreign-sponsored proxies, who were attempting to radicalise the youth of Balochistan.
"No one will be allowed to disrupt peace in Balochistan and nefarious designs of foreign-sponsored proxies attempting to mislead and radicalise the youth of Balochistan will be decisively thwarted with the unwavering support of the people of Balochistan," the ISPR said.
The meeting came just days after 18 servicemen were martyred, while fighting terrorists in the central Balochistan district of Kalat. The security forces also killed 23 terrorists, who were attempting to set up roadblocks in the district for their terrorist activities.
After the incident, the army chief visited Balochistan on Saturday. Speaking on the occasion, he vowed to hunt down and defeat the so-called "frenemies", warning that terrorist proxies of their foreign masters "are well known to us". These so-called "frenemies", he added, "will surely be defeated".
According to the ISPR, the conference recognised the urgency of countering externally-driven narratives of exclusion in the province. The forum stressed the need for accelerating people-centric socioeconomic development initiatives in Balochistan, the press release said.
In solidarity with the resilient people of Kashmir on the eve of Kashmir Solidarity Day (today), the forum strongly condemned the continued blatant human rights violations in the Indian-Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), recognising those violations as a grave threat to regional peace and stability.
Reiterating Pakistan's unwavering support for the legitimate struggle of the Kashmiri people for their right to self-determination, as enshrined in relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the forum emphasised the significance of international engagement in addressing those persistent violations.
The participants discussed the prevailing situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary. The forum took serious note of the recent reckless and provocative statements from the Indian military leadership, terming them "irresponsible and detrimental" to regional stability.
"These hollow statements from Indian military are indicative of their growing frustration and serve only to divert the attention of their masses and international community from their multiple internal fissures and blatant violations of human rights," the Gen Asim Munir said, while addressing forum.
"Pakistan Army remains fully prepared to defend the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the army chief said. "Any misadventure against Pakistan will be responded with full and resolute force of the state, InshaAllah."
The ISPR press release said that the conference expressed grave concern over the continued use of Afghan soil by the Fitna al Khawarij – a term used for the terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – for terrorist activities against Pakistan.
"The forum stressed the imperative of concrete and tangible actions by Interim Afghan Government against Fitna Al Khawarij instead of denials as well as continuing with the strategy of undertaking all necessary measures in defence of Pakistan and its people," it added.
At the outset of the meeting, the ISPR said, the participants paid profound tributes to the sacrifices made by the Shuhada of the armed forces, law-enforcement agencies, and the citizens who have laid down "their lives in pursuit of peace and stability of their beloved motherland".
Commending the operational preparedness of all formations, the army chief emphasised the importance of sustained mission-oriented training, enhanced military cooperation, and the conduct of joint exercises in both conventional and counter-terrorism domains.
Concluding the conference, Gen Asim Munir reaffirmed that the military leadership remained fully cognisant of the multifaceted challenges confronting the nation and was resolute in fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities with the steadfast support of the proud people of Pakistan.
(WITH INPUT FROM APP)