ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday reiterated the government’s resolve to eliminate terrorism, praising the role and sacrifices of the country’s security forces during a one-day visit to Quetta, the capital of the southwestern province of Balochistan.
Addressing political leaders in a live briefing aired on state television, Sharif said the fight against militancy was ongoing and required national unity. The visit included high-level meetings on governance and development in the province, according to Radio Pakistan.
Upon his arrival at the Governor House, the prime minister was presented a guard of honor by a contingent of the Balochistan Police, a Governor House press release said.
The meeting was attended by Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, federal ministers, Dr Ahsan Iqbal, Aleem Khan and Rana Sanaullah, as well as senior political figures from the province.
During his address, Sharif praised Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir for leading counter-terrorism operations. He said it was “unfortunate” that Balochistan continued to suffer from militant violence, adding that the contribution of the armed forces could not be overstated.
“Like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan has faced immense difficulties due to terrorism,” Sharif said, referring to another northwestern province that has experienced years of militant attacks.
“Be it the soldiers and officers of the army, Rangers personnel, officials of the Levies, or the common people, their sacrifices will be remembered in history,” he added.
Sharif said banned militant groups, which the state refers to as Fitna-al-Khawarij, a term Islamabad uses for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, were receiving support from “neighboring countries.”
“But we are firm in our resolve to eradicate terrorism,” he said.
Referring to recent tensions with India in May last year, the prime minister said Field Marshal Munir had led Pakistan’s response, adding that New Delhi had been “taught a lesson it will never forget.”
The prime minister also said the provincial government, working closely with the federal authorities, was taking “serious, coordinated, and result-oriented measures” to address Balochistan’s long-standing underdevelopment and integrate it into Pakistan’s economic mainstream, according to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan.
