QUETTA - Frontier Corps claimed to have recovered a heavy cache of explosives, including suicide-jackets and hand-grenades, during search operations in the outskirts of Quetta and Qila Abdul District.
The seized explosives were displayed to media here on Saturday, while FC Lieutenant Colonel Zafar Iqbal briefed journalists about the raids. He said that being informed they raided three houses in the outskirts of Quetta on December 26 and seized explosives and other ammunitions. He said 1,650 anti-personnel mines, 480 hand-grenades, 2,524 kg explosive powder, 8,980 detonators, suicide jackets, ball bearings and remote control devices were seized.
He said initial investigation suggested that the explosives were smuggled from a neighbouring country and to be used in Quetta and other areas for terror activities.
Similarly, he informed the newsmen that on December 27, FC personnel raided an area in Toba Achakzai of Qila Abdullah district near to Pak-Afghan border, and recovered 23 rockets, 1 RPG, 1 SMG, 1 rifle, satellite phone and other weapons. He said that the ammunitions and explosives recovered were to be used for targeting trains and gas pipelines.
On the occasion, Commander Southern Command Lieutenant General Nasir Khan Janjua lauded the FC and intelligence agencies for carrying out the raids successfully.
CITIZEN KILLED IN FIRING BY IRANIAN FORCES: A Pakistani citizen was gunned down while another wounded in firing reportedly by the Iranian security forces in Panjgour on Saturday.
According to sources, the Iranian forces opened indiscriminate firing at Pak-Iran border in Panjgour district. Resultantly, two Pak citizens namely Sher Jan and Essa, residents of Panjgour district sustained serious injuries. However, Sher Jan later succumbed to his injuries.
Sources said that Sher Jan and Essa had gone to the border to visit their relatives as the people living on both sides of border have blood relations.
It may be mentioned here that the Iranian forces have been continuously firing mortar shells at the border districts, including Chagai, Panjgour and Kech, and the situation has adversely frightened the people living near Pak-Iran border.
Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Maalik Baloch had expressed his concerns over the incidents, submitting the federal interior minister a report to take up the issue with Iran.