Violence in Balochistan rages on as Pakistan rules out talks with insurgents
The attacks in recent days in the restive province caused the deaths of more than 250 civilians, security personnel and insurgents
Pakistan has ruled out talks with the insurgents who seized control of security installations and administrative centres in more than a dozen urban areas during a lightning coordinated operation on Saturday.
A total of 216 insurgents, 36 civilians and at least 22 security personnel have been killed in the attacks, as fighting continued up to Wednesday. Officials said the attacks were the largest and deadliest since unrest first erupted in the province in 2004.
Addressing the country’s National Assembly on Monday, Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammed Asif said “nobody in Pakistan will be allowed to rationalise violence”.
“When you try to rationalise violence or dress it up as a freedom movement, it is not acceptable because it is not true. This is a cover to legitimise criminal activities,” he said.
Acknowledging that the people of Balochistan had “some grievances”, Asif said these were founded on “nationalistic fervour”.