Caretaker Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai has asserted that individuals labeled as “missing persons” by Baloch protesters were, in fact, “terrorists” killed in Pakistan’s recent strikes inside Iran.
The strikes were launched in retaliation for Tehran’s violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty by conducting an attack in Balochistan that resulted in casualties.
Achakzai, addressing a press conference in Quetta, criticized demonstrators holding a sit-in protest against enforced disappearances in Islamabad. He claimed that those labeled as missing persons were terrorists killed in the Iranian strikes carried out by Pakistan. He accused Mahrang Baloch, the leader of the protest, of staging a “drama” and defaming Pakistan under the guise of the missing persons issue.
The provincial information minister suggested that the Baloch protesters had ulterior motives and raised concerns about the potential for disturbances in law and order. He warned that individuals wearing masks in the sit-in could be terrorists affiliated with banned outfits, and hostile intelligence agencies might target the protest camp to blame Pakistan.
Achakzai emphasized that the ongoing protest camp in Islamabad should be addressed by the city administration and is not a judicial matter.
In response to Iranian claims that they targeted Jaish ul Adl in Pakistan, Achakzai asserted that no such organization existed in Pakistan. The recent incidents have further heightened tensions in the region and raised concerns about the complex dynamics involving security, cross-border actions, and internal protests in Balochistan.
