By: Sher Muhammad Jalbani
After a period of relative silence, terrorists have resurfaced in Balochistan and after sporadic incidents of terrorism in Hub Gwadar, Turbat, Panjgur and some other areas, no one from Quetta in Bolan district between Saturday and Sunday night. Coal miners were targeted near Machh, 100 km away. It was a horrific incident of sectarian terrorism in which twenty-five terrorists brutally slaughtered eleven miners of the Hazara Shia community by tying their hands and feet at gunpoint. The laborers were sobbing in their mud room at night after working hard when armed assailants stormed in and cut their throats one by one around midnight. Three were also shot at close range. The militant group ISIS has claimed responsibility for the inhumane act. On hearing the news the next morning, the relatives of the deceased reached the spot from Quetta and Machh Town and blocked the Quetta-Sukkur National Highway and blocked the traffic which was reopened by the administration after negotiations. The FC and Levies have launched a search for the fugitives in the Machh Mountains. Nine of those killed were reported to be from Afghanistan. Before the 21st
There have been dozens of terrorist attacks against the Hazara community in the past decade, after which many of its families have fled the province. However, many people are still here, some of them mining in the coal mines discovered during the British rule in the Machh mountain range. In Quetta, their population is limited to Murreeabad and Hazara Town. The richest of them are traders. Because of their distinctive appearance and language, they have a distinct identity and are easily targeted by extremists because of their profession. They were largely protected from militant activity due to security measures by law enforcement agencies, but the Hazara tribes are once again on the rise as a new wave of terrorism erupts in Balochistan as a result of the intrusion of a neighboring country. Have become insecure. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the latest incident of sectarian terrorism, which is a matter of great concern as the group has wreaked havoc in Arab countries. Its existence in Pakistan is a great threat to the stability of the country, which must be dealt with without delay. President Arif Alawi has strongly condemned the shocking incident and vowed that the state would find the culprits. Prime Minister Imran Khan also termed the killing of innocent people as a cowardly act and ordered the FC to arrest the killers, assuring them that the government would not leave the affected families alone. Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has sought a report of the incident from IG Police Balochistan. Information Minister Shibli Faraz has said in a statement that the external enemy wants to destabilize Pakistan. The government should take concrete steps to ensure the safety of the Hazara community. In particular, the protection of people associated with industries such as mining, which are a major source of income for Balochistan. This should be done on a priority basis. The mountains of Machh are rich in coal. The existence of a subversive group here is a big challenge for law enforcement agencies. It is expected that this challenge will be tackled with full vigor.