Monitoring Desk
A day after security forces successfully ended the Bolan hostage crisis, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stressed the urgent need for national unity to eliminate terrorism from Pakistan.
Speaking at a high-level security meeting in Quetta alongside his cabinet members, he emphasized the importance of a collective effort involving both political and military leadership to address the country’s security challenges.
“We need complete unity to fight this menace, yet unfortunately, there is a gap,” the premier stated during a press conference at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. He revealed that 339 hostages had been rescued, while 33 terrorists were eliminated in the operation. He vowed to provide security forces with the necessary resources to combat terrorism and called for an all-party meeting to formulate a national security strategy.
Highlighting the devastating impact of terrorism on Balochistan, the prime minister reiterated that Pakistan’s overall development was tied to the province’s progress. He questioned why terrorism had resurged in recent years and pointed to the release of thousands of Taliban fighters as a contributing factor.
PM Shehbaz condemned anti-military rhetoric, warning that such propaganda against the armed forces was unacceptable. He also proposed raising a new, well-equipped security force in Balochistan to counter terrorism, assuring full support from the federal government.
“Any attempt to destabilize our homeland will be met with the full and unyielding might of the state,” he asserted, adding that the fight against terrorism was not just against militant groups but also against an ideology of lawlessness and despair.
Later, the prime minister and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir visited the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Quetta, where they met with the injured victims and their families.
CM Bugti Condemns Terrorism
During a meeting with the prime minister, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti strongly condemned the recent acts of terrorism, stating that attacks on unarmed civilians, including women and children, were unacceptable as per Baloch traditions. He emphasized that linking such acts to the Baloch identity was incorrect.
“Terrorists aim to create fear and panic, but they cannot hold even an inch of land for more than a few hours,” he said, adding that the government and security agencies were taking swift action to dismantle their networks.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from federal and provincial leadership to intensify counterterrorism efforts and restore peace in Balochistan.
