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Khawaja Asif cited rising attacks in Balochistan, blaming BLA-criminal ties, Indian proxies, Afghan support, and defended security operations.
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif (Image: AP/file)
Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday said security forces deployed in restive Balochistan were “physically handicapped” due to the province’s vast geography, as the government continues large-scale “counter-terror” operations amid a sharp spike in attacks, PTI reported.
Addressing the National Assembly, Asif said the scale of Balochistan, which makes up over 40% of Pakistan’s landmass, posed major operational challenges despite the deployment of massive forces.
“Balochistan constitutes over 40 per cent of Pakistan geographically… To control it is much more difficult than a populated city, and it needs the deployment of massive forces. Our troops are deployed there and are in action against them (terrorists), but they are physically handicapped by guarding and patrolling such a big area,” he said, as quoted by PTI.
His remarks came after security forces killed 177 militants in operations launched, following coordinated attacks by terrorists at 12 locations across the province. Asif also alleged a nexus between criminals and militants, claiming that criminal gangs were operating under the banner of the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) to protect smugglers.
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“In Balochistan, tribal elders, the bureaucracy and those running separatist movements have formed a nexus,” he said, adding that smugglers had earlier earned up to PKRs 4 billion a day through oil smuggling.
Reiterating the government’s stance, Asif said Pakistan would not allow any attempt to “rationalise violence”. “When you try to rationalise violence or dress it up as a freedom movement, it is not acceptable because it is not true. This is a cover to legitimise criminal activities,” he said.
He also alleged that elements backed by India were operating as “proxies” in Balochistan and claimed Afghan soil was being used to support terrorism. “The terrorists’ leadership is based in Afghanistan, and they receive support from there,” he said.
Rejecting claims of deprivation, Asif said Balochistan had witnessed development over the years and had more airports than any other province, with efforts underway to make non-operational ones functional. He also dismissed allegations related to “missing persons”, claiming that names of terrorists killed in operations appeared on such lists.
“This narrative has been concocted… terrorists and criminal elements have hijacked all these narratives,” he said.
Asif further pointed to the sophisticated weaponry used by militants, saying they carried rifles worth PKRs 2 million and thermal sights costing USD 4,000–5,000, and questioned who was funding them. Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has long faced a violent insurgency, with Baloch militant groups repeatedly targeting projects linked to the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
February 04, 2026, 09:06 IST
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