Leghari stresses need to resolve Balochistan issue thru talks

ISLAMABAD—The situation in the country following the death of Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti has been more complicated due to controversial statements by the government, former president Sardar Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghri said Monday while talking to Voice of America here on Monday.
Military operation would not affect Iran, Pakistan and India gas pipeline project, he said and stressed the need to find out a political solution to Balochistan crisis.
“At some parts of Balochistan violence erupts and main reason of the violence is sense of deprivation. Bugti’s death and the manner in which it was carried out, Sardar Akbar Khan Bugti has become a martyred hero for Baloch nationalism”, he said.
He said that due to handling the Kohlu incident rightly the government has come under fire, however, it would be calm dawn within a week but this small war like situation will continue until these elements stop getting foreign aids, he added.
He expressed concern over India’s reservations on the security of Iran gas pipeline project. “Work at Gwadar port is going on, it is a mega project, and has a great strategic importance. By this way external power can harm this project’, he said.
“As long as the Balochistan operation is concerned it is not terrorism, where there is a terrorist activity, there should be operation to restore the writ of the government”, he and urged federal and provincial governments to resolve the Balochistan issue politically.—Agencies