BLA Funded by India, Women Used in Attacks in Balochistan: Khawaja Asif

**Sialkot:**
Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday said that a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Balochistan were completely foiled, forcing the militants to flee after leaving behind bodies. He alleged that women were used at two locations during the attacks and reiterated that Pakistan’s national agenda is to establish lasting peace and eliminate terrorism entirely.

Talking to the media in Sialkot, Khawaja Asif said multiple locations in Balochistan were targeted as part of a planned campaign. He termed the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and India as “two sides of the same coin,” alleging that the group is operating as an Indian proxy to destabilize Pakistan.

The defence minister said the attacks were aimed at civilian populations to demoralize the country. He alleged that the BLA uses women and even children in terrorist activities. Asif further claimed that most of the so-called missing persons are members of the BLA, adding that when terrorists are killed, their names often appear on the list of missing persons, while their families also seek compensation through alliances of missing persons.

He said the group has targeted laborers and attacked government offices. Khawaja Asif described the BLA as a foreign terrorist organization with presence in other countries as well, claiming that confessions of arrested suspects clearly point towards India’s involvement. He also urged India and Afghanistan not to use groups like the BLA and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as proxy franchises.

Highlighting the challenges in Balochistan, the defence minister said the province’s vast area and sparse population provide operational space to militants, who want to push Pakistan back into economic instability.

Reaffirming the government’s stance, Khawaja Asif said Pakistan’s armed forces are actively engaged in operations and vowed that terrorists would be completely eliminated to ensure peace across the country.