ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif announced that the government will not conduct peace talks with terrorists who commit attacks against women and children. The government will use its complete military strength to handle these terrorist threats that operate in Balochistan.
The defence minister declared that terrorists who attack innocent civilians including women and children should not be granted any peace negotiations. He stressed that terrorism remains a serious threat that requires people to fight against it with united strength and determination.
Khawaja Asif observed that many Baloch people live in Punjab while Balochistan contains various educational institutions and training centres which include medical colleges. He described corruption as a federal and provincial problem that destroys the national foundation of the country through its operation like a termite.
He described Balochistan as a site of daily operation for extensive smuggling networks which include oil smuggling activities. The terrorist groups make billions of rupees through these illegal operations. According to him, smuggled oil purchased from Iran at low prices is being sold at much higher rates in Karachi which provides financial support to terrorist networks.
The defence minister said that Balochistan gets Rs933 billion from the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award but that criminal groups take advantage of local grievances in order to spread their false claims of deprivation. He claimed that most missing persons are currently residing in Oman, Dubai and Muscat, while their families receive government financial support.
Khawaja Asif discussed security problems by explaining that Indian authorities arrested Kulbhushan Jadhav in Balochistan. He stated that terrorists possess high-quality weapons which include American firearms and some rifles that they own have a value of millions of rupees.
Defence Minister repeated his point that no negotiations would be held with terrorists who attack women and children. He appealed to political leaders to put their differences aside and unite behind the security forces, pointing out that national unity against the scourge of terrorism is a must.
He ended by saying that terrorists would be met with the full might of the state and that the struggle against terrorism is not that of the armed forces alone but of the whole nation.
