Interim Interior Minister Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti on Saturday claimed that the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), India’s foreign intelligence agency, was involved in the recent terror attacks in Balochistan.
Addressing the media in Quetta, Bugti asserted, “Those playing the role of a facilitator, whoever is doing this — be it anyone, whatever you may call it — they all are the same for us, all have the same origins, all are being handled from one place, RAW is behind all of them.”
The minister further added, “All incidents that took place before this… they all were unearthed — all major incidents that occurred in Balochistan — and the RAW’s involvement has been there behind all those, and the forces that want to destabilize Pakistan.”
Bugti’s allegations come in the wake of a devastating suicide blast that targeted a 12th Rabiul Awwal procession in Balochistan’s Mastung, resulting in the tragic loss of 55 lives, including a police officer. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack as of now, and even the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has denied involvement.
In response to this heinous act, the caretaker government of Balochistan has declared three days of mourning.
Additionally, another bomb attack occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu, targeting a police station’s mosque. This attack claimed the lives of five individuals and left 12 others injured as the mosque’s roof collapsed due to the explosion’s impact.
Speaking to the media, Interior Minister Bugti expressed a resolute stance against terrorists, vowing to pursue them to their hideouts. He emphatically stated that the policy of appeasement would no longer be tolerated.
Bugti declared, “What we know is that these appeasement policies adhered to — what we saw in the past two to three years — there is no tolerance for that.” He emphasized that the state is aware of the locations from which terrorists operate and affirmed, “We will go to their dens, where they are nurtured and which are their safe havens, and we will go against them.”
Bugti also touched upon the issue of multiple organizations sometimes claiming responsibility for the same attack. He stated that investigations into the recent attacks were ongoing.
Regarding the abduction of footballers from the Dera Bugti district earlier this month, Bugti confirmed that four of them have returned safely. He assured that efforts were ongoing to recover the remaining two individuals.
Meanwhile, the Balochistan Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) announced that it has registered a first information report (FIR) for the Mastung attack, which claimed the lives of 55 people. The FIR includes charges of murder and terrorism against an unidentified attacker. The investigation is ongoing, and no arrests have been made thus far.
In a show of mourning and solidarity, the national flag was lowered to half-mast on various government buildings in Balochistan, including the Balochistan Assembly, Chief Minister House, Governor House, and the Balochistan High Court.
Balochistan caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai remarked that the entire Mastung region was engulfed in sorrow. Despite the heartbreak, he commended the administration and security institutions for their efforts to restore normalcy as they laid the martyrs to rest. He emphasized the government’s unwavering commitment to combat terrorism and ensure the safety and security of its citizens.
