Targeted blast in Kech district

The incidents of militancy are on the rise in the provinces of Baluchistan and Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. During a routine patrol, a vehicle of Frontier Corps was targeted with Improvised Explosive Device in Buleda area of Kech district of restive Baluchistan province. One officer of security forces and five soldiers were martyred in the blast, another security personnel was injured. From the last month the tribal district of North Waziristan in Khyber Pukhtunkhwa, surge in in terrorist activities has been witnessed against which security forces carried out intelligence based search operations. Baluchistan is mineral reserves rich province and whenever serious efforts are made to exploit these resources a wave of insurgency erupts, which is financed by regional and world players. Previously, insurgencies were ethnic in nature. The current one, which is going on for the past 14 years, has both ethnic and sectarian dimensions. It has linkage with CPEC related mega development projects, particularly the booming international trade in future through the deep seaport of Gawadar ; the plan of operationalization of Gawdar Free Trade Zone, which will convert it into hub of industrialisation and trade. Foreign powers and the vested interest class in Baluchistan are bent upon depriving the people of the province from the fruits of spread effect of development projects, which are being implemented under the umbrella of CPEC. The oppressive Baluch Chieftains, who as lip service always speak about the rights of the people, had never made sincere efforts, while in power, to emancipate ordinary Baluchis from the yoke of Sardari System. Neither the “Aghaz-e-Haqooq Baluchistan” package nor the transfer of more financial resources under 7th NFC Award brought any visible change in the life of masses in the province. Embezzlement in the utilisation of development funds is an institutionalized norm. It merits mention that Rs. 600 million cash had been recovered from the house of a provincial finance secretary, Mushatq Raisani. The militants of a particular banned outfit have become active in the tribal district of North Waziristan. A check-post of security forces was attacked at Eidak in Mirali Subdivision on Thursday in which two personnel were martyred. In last month from April 7 to April 26, security forces conducted several intelligence based search operations in the hideouts of terrorists, killing them and recovering caches of arms and ammunition. Keeping in view the fencing along Pak-Afghan border and its strict management, the theory of presence militants’ sleeper cells will gain currency. A well-coordinated combing operation shall be needed to wipe out these cells. Ironically, the political leadership has shown reluctance to give ownership to the National Action Plan, putting implementation of certain very important points on the backburner. No legislation has been done by the parliament to reform criminal justice system. National Counter Terrorism Authority, under which joint intelligence directorate was conceived to be formed, has not been made fully functional. The last PML-N did urge Ulema to build a narrative to counter extremism and militancy.