QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti stated that the challenges facing the province were not political in nature and could only be dealt with through a security-driven response. He confirmed that at least 31 civilians and 17 members of the security forces were martyred in attacks carried out by the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) across the province.
While speaking on Geo News programme Naya Pakistan, the chief minister dismissed reports suggesting that thousands of militants were involved in the recent wave of coordinated attacks. He said such claims were exaggerated and inaccurate.
“Figures ranging from 1,000 to 2,000 are completely baseless. At most, there were around 200 to 250 attackers, and the majority of them have either been eliminated or forced to flee,” he said. Bugti added that militant groups often use civilians as human shields, particularly during attacks in populated urban areas.
Addressing a question about the size of militant networks in Balochistan, he said estimates put the combined number of terrorists, their supporters and facilitators between 4,000 and 5,000.
Commenting on the rise in militancy after 2021, Bugti attributed the resurgence of organised militant activity to what he described as an appeasement-based policy adopted after 2018.
“Before 2018, the state’s policy was not appeasement. Because of that, militants were on the run. There were FC checkpoints on highways and a clear security presence,” he said.
He explained that a policy shift following the formation of a new government in 2018 allowed militant groups to reorganise.
“With the introduction of a new approach, we began appeasing them. As a result, by 2021 they became organised, and by 2023 and 2024 they had grown even stronger,” Bugti said, adding that his government reviewed the policy after coming into power in 2024.
“We questioned why we were allowing them such freedom of movement,” he added.
The chief minister also commented on reports circulating on social media regarding senior militant commander Bashir Zeb. He said that while the footage could not be fully verified, official assessments strongly suggested that Zeb was present in Afghanistan.
“It cannot be confirmed with absolute certainty, but based on 99.99% of the information available to the government, he is in Afghanistan,” Bugti said.
He maintained that Afghan territory was being used against Pakistan and that militant leadership continued to operate from across the border.
At the same time, Bugti said the majority of the public stood firmly with the state.
“The people are largely supportive of Pakistan. It is not unusual for one to three per cent of individuals to sympathise with insurgents. This happens in insurgencies around the world,” he said.
His remarks followed confirmation that at least 145 militants were killed within nearly 40 hours across Balochistan after BLA fighters launched coordinated attacks in 12 towns.
Speaking at a press conference in Quetta, Bugti said the attacks were carried out by terrorists linked to what he termed the India-sponsored Fitna al-Hindustan, targeting civilians in Quetta, Mastung, Nushki, Dalbandin, Kharan, Panjgur, Tump, Gwadar and Pasni.
He disclosed that the bodies of 145 terrorists were in official custody and revealed that in Gwadar, militants had martyred five women and three children.
Bugti accused hostile forces of attempting to destabilise Pakistan at India’s behest and questioned whether the BLA was a registered political party that could be engaged in dialogue.
He said the group aimed to enforce its ideology through violence and reiterated that the government would not back down.
“We will not surrender. They may try to create instability, but they cannot take even a single inch of our land,” the chief minister said.