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Balochistan has 70 insurgent camps, says IGFC
QUETTA: Inspector General Frontier Corps (IGFC) Balochistan Major General Mohammad Ejaz Shahid said on Friday that 60 to 70 Farari camps, or insurgent camps, were operating in the province. However, he added that it was difficult to crack down on these camps because they keep changing location according to the weather.
Speaking at a media briefing at the FC Madadgar Centre, Maj Gen Shahid said that the paramilitary force lacked resources to police the whole province that makes up 44% of the country's total landmass.However, he added that "if the local population cooperates, peace can be restored in no time". He cited the examples of Makran and Panjgur among other districts where the local population was cooperating with the security forces.He lamented that despite the Supreme Court ban, the media was publishing statements of the proscribed organisations claiming attacks on the security forces.
Responding to a question, Maj Gen Shahid said that earlier there was 6% quota in the FC for the Baloch youth that has been enhanced to 15% and within next 15 years it would be raised to 50%. The FC has also set up schools in the far-flung areas of the province which are out of reach of the education department.
On the occasion, Lt Col Chaudhry Zafar Iqbal said that the FC raided an empty house in the Toba Achakzai area of Qilla Abdullah and seized a huge quantity of explosives. No arrest was made, though. Besides 1.5 tons of explosives, the FC seized 1,320 anti-personnel mines, 500 anti-tank mines, 200 IEDs, 150 prima cards, 17 bundles of wire, 21 remote controls, and nine time bombs.
The IGFC said the explosives and weapons were transported from neighbouring countries for sabotage activities in Balochistan.
Separately, during a search operation in Kili Janu of Gulistan area, the security forces detained two miscreants and recovered two light machine guns, 42 hand grenades, 21 SMGs, one shot gun, and two motorcycles.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 4th, 2014.
