Quetta - Two FC personnel were martyred when some BLA-BLF terrorists opened firing on convoy of Frontier Corps South Inspector General Major General Saeed Ahmed Nagra in Panjgur on Thursday.
According to security sources, IGFC and all other senior officers remained unhurt in the attack.
The convoy was ambushed in Panjgur when it was on its way to Khuzdar. There soldiers were also injured in the attack.
“Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) fighters conducted this attack, and it was a joint operation with the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF),” BLA spokesperson Jihand Baloch told Al Jazeera via satellite phone from an undisclosed location. “The BLA and BLF have conducted numerous operations together, and will continue to do so,” BLA spokesperson Baloch said, adding that about a dozen fighters participated in the raid, using rocket launchers and automatic rifles.
Security officials confirmed the attack and death toll, with State Minister for Interior Shahryar Afridi condemning the incident. “Enemies of the state should be clear that these sorts of cowardly attacks will not diminish our commitment and motivation,” Afridi said.
Addressing a press conference in Quetta, Afridi and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari strongly condemned the attack on Inspector General of Frontier Corps (IGFC) South Balochistan, saying that such cowardly attack could not weaken morale of personnel of law enforcement agencies.
They paid rich tribute to security forces including Pak-Army, FC, police and other law enforcement agencies over their numerous sacrifices, saying that law enforcement agencies were playing vital role to curb terrorist activities for restoring peace in the country.
They said “Sacrifices of security forces will not go waste in the country”, adding Pak-Iran borders side of Taftan area would be made hub of business in future.
In a separate incident earlier Thursday, a police constable was killed in Quetta. Armed men riding a motorcycle targeted the constable as he was heading to a local police station in the Nawa Killi area of the city. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed that attack in a statement.
ZAEREEN’S ISSUES REVIEWED
Addressing the news conference, Afridi said, following the special directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan, they inspected Pakistan House Taftan and Quetta to address problems being faced by the Zaereen (pilgrims) going to Iran and Iraq while travelling in the areas.
He said they reviewed Zaereen issues while directions were issued to Federal Investigation Agency and all other related departments to ensure a teamwork for provision of facilities to pilgrims in travelling.
“Basic amenities were not being provided to the Zaereen in the past,” he said and added federal and provincial governments were taking solid measures to provide protection to them, because it was the responsibility of the state to ensure foolproof security of Zaereen.
He said PTI government had provided lot of facilities to pilgrims in two months, saying it was my third visit to Taftan in order to address all issues faced by Zaereen.
Afridi said the government was following the Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision of treating people equally according to Madinah Islamic State for welfare of the people.
He further said credibility of Pakistan would further be raised internationally with the development of small provinces including Balochistan and Gilgit Baltistan. “Federal government was trying to provide better environment for all religions to live according to their religious teachings,” he added.
Zulifqar Bukhari said the government would provide all amenities to the Zaereen in Pakistan House Taftan through better teamwork. He said Taftan would become a huge business centre for both countries in upcoming era.
He said two personnel of security forces, martyred in an attack, would not go waste, saying that 44,000 Zaereen were passed from Taftan through immigration system for visiting holy places.
IGFC escapes terror attack in Panjgur