More than 60 young police cadets were killed in Quetta which is the capital city of Baluchistan province bordered with Iran. Pakistan has always stated that India and its intelligence agency RAW was involved in deteriorating the situation in Baluchistan where China is firmly working to develop Gawadar sea port under China Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is a pilot project of One Belt One Road.
For the latest on Quetta killings we have talked to Muhammad Zamir Asadi, a senior journalist and analyst based in Islamabad.
Eurasia Diary: How do you comment on the violent terrorist attack on police training centre in Quetta?
Muhammad Zamir Asadi: It was very horrific night yesterday, we cannot forget it as it was another dark night for the fellow countrymen. Approximately three militants attacked police training- academy - in the capital of Baluchistan province. It was a very heavy attack in which more than sixty police cadets were killed and 121 got injured. The intensity of attack was high. Just in August, 2016 there was an attack in the hospital Quetta which claimed 70 lives at spot.
This one is very significant targeted attack from the militants in which only three militants attacked and more than 60 police cadets were killed. Frontier Corps and SSG commandos of Pakistan military conducted 4 hours long operation against militants for clearing the centre and to shot the militants.
Eurasia Diary: This is not the first time that the security agencies, police, army, paramilitary forces have been targeted in Pakistan. Do you think; this is a security lapse?
Muhammad Zamir Asadi: Yes, I agree with the notion that it was a serious security lapse as police training centre was attacked by only three militants; it is a breach of security. Everyone is raising a questions that if the police academy is not save then how the security officials, security agencies are going to give the protection to the public at large. Now a day’s security and political situation is Pakistan is getting tense as on the one side tension on Line of Control (LOC) between Pakistan and India is rising day by day and India is violating seas fire agreements by unprovoked firing which is damaging for the regional security and killing people in the area.
On other side political crisis in Pakistan is getting worse as leading opposition party Pakistan Tehreek e insaf (PTI) is going to lock down capital Islamabad in a protest campaign against government. On third side security institutions are targeting militants in different operations successfully.
Government and military is committed to eradicate militancy from the country by targeting the militants in any single corner of Pakistan. Terrorists will not be allowed to hide and run away after such heinous acts.
Eurasia Diary: Do you think that after this attack there will be a tension between India and Pakistan because, because there is already tension on Line of Control (LoC)?
Muhammad Zamir Asadi: We are already witnessing the tensions on border between Pakistan and India. Especially in recent months due to border clashes the bilateral relations are not very good.
In recent days there was a serious situation where India announced to wage a war against Pakistan however now the situation is under control but the clashes on LOC has become a routine matter as India is violating seas fire agreements by unprovoked firing
Officials have confirmed that the calls of the militants were traced who were getting the continuous instructions from Afghanistan during this militant activity.
Eurasia Diary: “Dawn” newspaper reported something about tension between military and civil government in Pakistan, how you see it?
Muhammad Zamir Asadi: Government has clearly stated that the content of the news story was wrong and the issue was not discussed in the high level meeting. But military took the notice and demanded an inquiry to know about the people responsible for leakage of sensitive information of the high level meeting. Interior minister Mr. Chaudary Nisar Ali Khan is leading an inquiry and there are reports that one of the minister and a top bureaucrat were involved in feeding the sensitive information to the Dawn media group but independently we cannot confirm this information.
There are reports the government and military are not on the same page when it comes to target the Punjab (Largest province of Pakistan) based banned militant organizations which are responsible for various terrorists’ activities. However government and military are evolving strategies to target these hard core elements operating in Punjab.
Eurasia Diary: How do you see this incident impact on the 2nd November, Mr. Imran Khan is going to lock Islamabad and other political parties are going to join him against the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif corruption scandal?
Muhammad Zamir Asadi: PTI is very committed to launch a powerful political show on November 2nd for lock down of Islamabad which will definitely raise pressure on government and the recent political crisis may also get worsen. One of the old political ally Mr. Thair ul Qadri has also joined him for the protests in Islamabad.