ISLAMABAD - There is no military operation in any part of Balochistan and not a single soldier is out of the barracks, Director General Military Operation (DGMO) Major General Ishfaq Ahmed Nadeem said on Tuesday.
He said majority of names added in the missing persons list are in Ferrari camps, some of them have been jailed in Afghanistan due to their criminal activities.
He said this while addressing a two-day National Workshop on ‘Balochistan Situation: Perceptions and Realities- The Way Forward’ organised by the National Defence University (NDU) here.
A number of Baloch leaders including Yar Muhammad Jamali, Deputy Chairman Senate Sabir Baloch, Senator Mir Hasil Khan Bizinjo, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Mir Ahmdan Bugti, Provincial Minister Mir Shahnawaz Mari, former Federal Minister Dr Abdul Malik Kansi, Member National Assembly Nasir Ali Shah, Sarfraz Masuri Bugti, Munir Khan Kakar and others were present on the ocassion. Former Vice Chancellor Balochistan University, Brig (r) Agha A Gul and Secretary Science and Technology Government of Balochistan, Akbar Hussain Durrani also addressed the Workshop.
Earlier in his welcome address, President National Defence University (NDU), Lt-General Umar Farooq said the University has organised the workshop to discuss the issue of Balochistan in detail and such events would pave way to understand the issue and find its solution.
Ambassador Aminullah Raisani who is also brother of Chief Minister Balochistan also addressed the participants of the workshop and highlighted various aspects of the issue with historical background and different areas of the province.
"I want to make it clear that there is no military operation in Balochistan and this is a wrong perception being created through a well-organised propaganda which should be removed," the DGMO said. Talking about establishment of cantonments in various parts of Balochistan especially in Sui and Kohlu, the Major General made it clear that the Army has no plans to establish new cantonments as per decision of the provincial government. He said people's support is vital and crucial for any army and army is nothing without the support of people.
Speaking about solution of Balochistan, he said that "Army wants political solution of Balochistan issue and only dialogue and debate could pave the way for solution of the issue.”
Regarding uplift schemes and development projects, he said that Pakistan Army has revived work on Chamalang Coal Mines which provides not only employment to thousands but also brought peace in the area.
Educational institutions were established in various parts of the province even in Sui area which fulfilled the dreams of Baloch students. Hundreds of Baloch youth have also been enrolled in Pakistan Army as officers besides thousands of ‘jawans’ (soldiers) during the last four years.
To a question about role of Frontier Corps (FC), Major General Ishfaq Ahmed Nadeem said that FC always acts on the direction of the provincial government and made it clear that FC is not involved in missing persons issue.
Majority of names added in the missing persons list are in Ferrari camps, some of them have been jailed in Afghanistan due to their criminal activities and some others also reportedly in Afghanistan, he apprised the workshop participants.