SATURDAY again saw terrorism striking Pakistan hard – the country that already has paid a heavy price in war on terror and the brunt is being faced by brave officers and jawans of armed forces. Ten personnel including an officer were martyred in two separate attacks in North Waziristan tribal district and Balochistan. In the first incident, six Pakistan Army soldiers were martyred when terrorists from across the Afghan border opened fire on a border patrolling party near Gurbaz area of North Waziristan district. In the second incident four armed forces personnel were martyred, during a combing operation between Hushab and Turbat, when militants fired upon a contingent of Frontier Corps Balochistan.
These two attacks come days after Pakistani civilian and military leadership discussed regional security situation and Afghan peace with their American counterparts during which contributions of Pakistan in war against terrorism and its role in Afghan peace process were duly acknowledged. Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, after these incidents, expressed his firm resolve to ensure robust defence and security of the motherland at all cost. This is a clear message to forces inimical to peace and stability that come what may the country’s armed forces will not relent from ongoing campaign against terrorism until it’s eliminated and peace finally returns. These attacks leave no doubt that enemy want not only to undermine peace in Pakistan but also sabotage and derail country’s peace efforts for Afghanistan but as DG, ISPR Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor said such efforts are bound to fail. However, more such attacks cannot be ruled out in coming days and we need to remain alert with better coordination of security forces and intelligence agencies to pre-empt their dark activities.
We have no doubt in saying that these attacks had the backing of foreign forces whose intervention in Pakistan stands established and documented in the International Court of Justice’s judgment in Kulbushan Yadav case. These foreign elements are using Afghan land to perpetrate attacks inside Pakistani tribal areas. On North Waziristan attack from Afghan side, our government should immediately raise the matter with Afghan government and remind it of its responsibility of taking action against such elements. For long, anti-Pakistan elements such as TTP are operating from the Afghan soil and mounting attacks inside tribal areas but it is regrettable that Afghan government has failed to act against them. If Afghan government is really interested in peace, it should take decisive action against the TTP and destroy its safe havens. The Afghan side should cooperate with Pakistan in fortifying the border and check movement of undesirable elements. A coordinated approach is the way forward to foil designs of terrorists.
As regards Balochistan incident, the frequency of such attacks especially on security personnel has increased in recent time, which indeed is worrying. Intelligence agencies need to be activated to foil designs of the criminal elements and terrorists backed by the enemy that are bent upon disrupting peace in the strategically located province. Peace in Balochistan is important for the peace and prosperity of whole country and region. It is time that international community also wholeheartedly accepts and acknowledges the heavy price paid by our people and security personnel for regional peace and stability.
