From Our Correspondent:
ISLAMABAD – Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has accused Afghanistan of providing safe havens and state support to terrorists launching cross-border attacks inside Pakistan. Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Bugti said Afghan soil continues to be used for militancy, adding that several recently eliminated militants had direct links to Afghanistan.
Bugti urged the Taliban government to respect the Doha Agreement, which binds them not to allow their territory to be exploited by militant groups. “They must fulfill their commitment and stop allowing terrorists to operate against Pakistan,” he stressed.
Detailing a major counter-terrorism operation in Chagai, Bugti said two militants were killed — including a lawyer-turned-insurgent — while another surrendered after a fierce gun battle. A soldier of the Federal Constabulary embraced martyrdom during the operation. The suspects were allegedly involved in the May 8 killing of Pakistan Air Force personnel.
The chief minister accused India’s intelligence agency RAW of sponsoring an “intelligence-based war” in Balochistan by bringing together separatist groups to destabilize Pakistan. “This insurgency is being fueled from abroad,” he remarked.
Responding to criticism over the suspension of 4G internet services in Balochistan, Bugti said the move was necessary to disrupt terrorists’ communication networks. “The purpose is not to create difficulties for the public but to save lives,” he explained.
On the missing persons issue, Bugti rejected claims made by rights activists, insisting that propaganda has blurred the line between “self-disappearance” and enforced disappearance. He also dismissed allegations of a “puppet setup” in Balochistan, asserting that his government is independently working to restore peace and accelerate development.
The CM added that federal and provincial authorities would also launch satellite-based monitoring to preserve Pakistan’s poppy-free status.
