CM Bugti says 'no dialogue' with those taking up arms against state

Sarfraz Bugti, Chief Minister of Balochistan, declared on Saturday that there would be "no dialogue in any case" with those who took up arms against the state. During a video link session with media professionals, senior journalists, and representatives at his office, Bugti stated that the war against terrorism would persist in Balochistan until the "last terrorist" was eliminated.

He emphasized that controlling the entire province from Quetta was impractical. Bugti affirmed that the civil and military leadership were unified in their opposition to terrorism, with no ambiguity or confusion. He noted that security forces were performing their duties in challenging conditions, and state institutions were working in close coordination to combat terrorism.

Prior to his conversation with journalists, Bugti received comprehensive briefings on various topics, including the provincial government's strategy for social and economic development, governance, service delivery, efficient use of development funds, and measures to ensure development benefits the populace. Additionally, he learned about the minerals and mining sector's potential, ongoing initiatives, and measures to enhance its development and utilization of the province's mineral resources.

Bugti also received updates on the law and order situation, the Provincial Action Plan, police reforms, and progress in integrating the Levies Force into the police force. During the session with journalists, Bugti shared his perspective on creating new administrative units, stating that they should be based on administrative rather than linguistic grounds.

On Thursday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry mentioned that the Parliament was likely to debate the creation of new provinces in Balochistan the following month. Bugti denied knowledge of a "two-and-a-half-year government agreement" for Balochistan, stating that such a decision would be made by the political leadership.

He assured that his cabinet would persist in serving the people as long as they were in office. While Bugti acknowledged that corruption had decreased compared to the past, he could not claim it was completely eradicated. He emphasized that measures were being taken to ensure merit in all government departments, including educational institutions.

Bugti mentioned that development projects in Balochistan had been completed ahead of schedule compared to previous years, and the provincial government was focused on making the development process effective, result-oriented, and aligned with public needs. Regarding the return of foreign nationals, Bugti reported that 1.1 million Afghan refugees and other foreigners had been repatriated to their home country from Balochistan.

Regarding the issue of missing persons, Bugti pointed out that such matters were sometimes presented on national media and other platforms without proper context, which did not accurately reflect the true situation. He insisted that terrorism was a national issue requiring joint efforts at the national level for its elimination.