Contacts established with disgruntled Baloch: Gen Aamer

QUETTA: Commander Southern Command Lt Gen Aamer Riaz has said contacts have been established with disgruntled people in Balochistan which will produce good results within two months.
General Aamer said currently there was no insurgency in Balochistan. He was addressing media persons at the Southern Command Headquarters here on Thursday. He said: “There is no insurgency in Balochistan but a pit of misguided militancy. I would extend efforts of former commander Southern Command, Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Khan Janjua to maintain peace and order and to contribute development process in the province.”
He said violence damages the state and the development process. “We will have to make an investment-friendly environment to attract huge private investment in Balochistan in connection with the Pak-China Economic Corridor,” he said. He added that the federal and the Balochistan governments would have to make joint efforts to remove hindrances in the development process and to maintain peace and order.
The commander Southern Command said that all stakeholders would have to make collective efforts to get benefits from the present peace and good environment of Balochistan for the sustainable development and empowerment of the people.
“There is need to carry out record development works in Balochistan including construction of water dams, roads, schools and health centres,” he said.In reply to a question, he said that due to Chinese influence in the region, there would be a rebalance of international powers in the world. “Pakistan will be a great beneficiary of this rebalance of international powers,” he said. He added that China was the second largest economy in the world. He said the mega projects launched under the CPEC and Gwadar Deep Sea Port would not only benefit Balochistan but also the whole country.
“No one can exploit the interests of Pakistan as it is a powerful country,” he said. He appreciated the role of the media in highlighting the positive aspects of the Balochistan situation. He said that credit for the restoration of peace in Balochistan went to all stakeholders including the media, civil society, government, army, law enforcement agencies and common people.