THE tragic attack on a passenger bus near Kalat, which claimed the lives of three innocent civilians and injured 13 others, is a grim reminder of the persistent threat posed by terrorism in Balochistan.
This heinous act, occurring just days after the deadly assault on another passenger bus in the Zhob area, reflects a disturbing pattern: the deliberate targeting of civilians by those who wish to sow fear and division.
Failing to defeat Pakistan’s defence forces on the battlefield, our arch enemy is now hiding behind proxy terror groups, striking soft targets and spilling the blood of the innocent. These are not acts of strength—they are acts of desperation and cowardice. The recent killing of three terrorists affiliated with the India-backed proxy group “Fitna al Hindustan” in Awaran, where Major Syed Rub Nawaz Tariq heroically laid down his life for the motherland, also underscores the bravery of our security forces in countering the terrorists. Acts of terrorism is part of a broader enemy strategy to destabilize Balochistan, a province rich in resources and of immense strategic significance. Their objective is clear: to spread chaos and sabotage Pakistan’s progress. But they will not succeed. We are proud and confident in the resolve and capability of our defence forces. As they eliminate these proxies one by one, we should remain united to foil the nefarious designs of the enemy. At the same time, there is a pressing need to strengthen intelligence-sharing mechanisms and improve preemptive operations to foil such attacks before they occur. Moreover, we must continue to expose the ugly face of India before the international community. The world must see the true nature of these so-called proxy groups and recognize them for what they are—tools of state-sponsored terrorism aimed at sabotaging peace in South Asia. Targeting innocent musicians, travellers and civilians is not just an attack on Pakistan—it is an affront to humanity. Time has come to hold India accountable for its crimes. The world must abandon silence and double standards when it comes to terrorism.
