In the Balochistan Assembly session, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) member of the provincial assembly, Fazal Qadir Mandokhel, has claimed that thousands of former Afghan soldiers have been brought to Pakistani areas bordering Afghanistan, however, the provincial government has sought evidence of this claim and said that there is no credible information or evidence in this regard.
Member of the assembly from Zhob district, Fazal Qadir Mandokhel, made this claim during a discussion on a resolution related to law and order. The said resolution was presented by Awami National Party member of the assembly, Engineer Zamrak Khan Achakzai, in which concern was expressed over the law and order situation in Balochistan.
While participating in the discussion, Fazal Qadir Mandokhel expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the province and claimed that thousands of Afghan soldiers from the era of former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani have been brought to his area. He asked the government why these people were transferred there.
The resolution was discussed by members of the government and the opposition, but during the meeting, Provincial Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar did not directly comment on the claim.
Later, while talking to the media after the assembly session, Bakht Muhammad Kakar said that if anyone has information about the presence of former Afghan soldiers, they should also present evidence of it.
It should be noted that there has been an increase in claims about the presence of a large number of former forces in Balochistan and their organization in the form of armed groups.
Recently, Iran’s semi-official media outlet Tasnim News claimed in a report that Pakistan’s military and intelligence agencies use government-backed armed groups to operate against Baloch separatists in Balochistan, and a number of former Afghan security personnel have also joined these groups.
The report, published on August 6, claims that so-called “Lesker” (death squads) in Balochistan are active with the support of Pakistan’s security agencies and play a role in security operations and counter-insurgency in collaboration with the army, border forces and the country’s intelligence agencies.
According to the report, these groups act as proxy forces and participate in some of Pakistan’s security operations without being formally incorporated into the state structure.
Dr. Mahrang Baloch, leader of the Baloch Solidarity Committee, also said in a statement that local people in several areas of Balochistan have seen individuals who belonged to the former Afghan army and are now active with the Pakistani forces in Pakistani military brutality. Former Afghan army personnel were also regularly involved in the military brutality in some areas, including Zehri. Similarly, the general public of Mastung is complaining that former Afghan army personnel have occupied a school with the blessing of the Pakistani army and set up their camp there.
Dr. Mah Rang said that this act is creating intense hatred, grief, and concern among the Baloch people.
Share this content:
