LAHORE: The government will deal harshly with those who support terrorism in various sections of the nation and who sympathize with terrorists both at home and abroad, according to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.
He stated that the government possesses concrete evidence that foreign individuals are complicit in acts of terrorism in Balochistan during a press conference held on Monday at the Gaddafi Stadium in this city. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is involved in terrorist actions in Pakistan, he said, and the government has provided evidence to the Afghan government proving that the terrorist organization works out of Afghanistan and that Afghan soil is being exploited for subversive activities in Pakistan.
The Interior Minister claimed, “Terrorist acts in the country are also being carried out by TTP men who were released by the previous government.” He stated that the government would expose all those who attempt to weaken Pakistan and make innuendos on the role played by specific individuals and multiple foreign entities in inciting instability in Balochistan. He said that the attackers were terrorists and that the government’s objective was to eradicate terrorism.
Regarding the terrorist acts in Balochistan, he stated that the federal government concurs with Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti’s position and that terrorists will be eradicated. In response to a query, he stated that the choice to begin the “Azam e Istehkam” operation in Balochistan is difficult and that the political leadership will make a decision in the coming days.
The interior minister did, however, guarantee that terrorists will face a tit-for-tat response in addition to a political resolution. In response to a follow-up query, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that he was not involved in the results of the general election in 2024 and that he had just helped the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) carry out the election successfully. He added that to avoid creating any issues, he chose not to address the accusations made by the political personalities.
“Terrorism is a menace and we are dealing with it,” Naqvi stated, adding that the leaders of a particular political party may want to see unrest throughout the nation. He stated that the government is prepared to combat terrorism and that the recent events are the consequence of long-term planning rather than an institutional failure on the part of the intelligence services.
Regarding the police officers who were killed in Southern Punjab, the Interior Minister stated that the Punjab government will soon conduct a news conference and release further information. He also noted that the federal government is in close communication with both provincial governments and is offering them support.
