ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has stressed the significance of “good governance” and people-centric development to ensure durable peace in Pakistan’s insurgency-hit Balochistan province, the Pakistani military said on Saturday.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but most impoverished province, has been the site of a long-running insurgency that has intensified in recent months, with separatist militants frequently attacking security forces, government officials and installations and people from other provinces.
Apart from separatist outfits, religiously motivated groups such as the Pakistani Taliban and Daesh also maintain presence in Balochistan, where nine Pakistani soldiers and 50 Pakistani Taliban militants were killed in separate incidents this month, according to officials.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing, said on Saturday that Field Marshal Munir visited Balochistan’s Turbat to review the prevailing security situation, assess development initiatives, and reinforce coordination between military and civil institutions.
“COAS (chief of army staff) was given a comprehensive brief on the security dynamics, including threat perspective and successful operations against Fitna Al-Hindustan (Indian-sponsored militants), ongoing development projects, and efforts to enhance socio-economic conditions in southern Balochistan,” the ISPR said.
