QUETTA: Security forces have arrested six militants believed to be involved in two bomb blasts in the city that had left 16 people dead.

This was said by Balochistan Home Minister Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti at a press conference here on Thursday.

He said that the arrests were made during raids jointly conducted by police and personnel of intelligence agencies at two places in the Eastern Bypass and Killi Shabo areas on Wednesday night.

Mr Bugti said the arrested militants belonged to the banned United Baloch Army (UBA) and added, “They carried out a bomb blast in a bus carrying people of the Sariab area a few months ago, killing 11 people.

“Besides, they exploded a bomb fitted to a cycle at Almo Chowk two months ago that left five people dead. They were also involved in other subversive activities.”

The suspects had confessed to their involvement in the two bomb attacks, the minister said. More arrests are likely in this connection Replying a question, he said that involvement of the Indian intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing, and the Afghan spy agency, the National Directorate of Security, in the two attacks could not be ruled out as the agencies were funding banned militant organisations to foment unrest in Balochistan.

“We have ample evidence of involvement of the RAW and the NDS in terrorist activities in Balochistan,” the minister said. He recalled that a few months ago, some NDS agents involved in bomb blasts, targeted killings and other acts of terrorism were arrested in Chaman and other areas.

Answering another question, he said, “We are living in a conflict zone and bomb blasts usually took place in such regions. But we are fighting terrorists and would not give up.”

He dispelled the impression that the government was not supporting police and said that police and security forces were jointly fighting against terrorism.

To another query, the minister said that it was the result of negotiation that a large number of tribesmen and others involved in militancy had surrendered and joined mainstream. They are being rehabilitated and provided facilities.

They had surrendered because of realisation that their leaders were enjoying a luxurious life in European countries but instigating their followers to take up arms and kill innocent people, including teachers and doctors, he said.

Mr Bugti said that the brother of Akhtar Nadeem, a leader of the banned Balochistan Liberation Front, was recently killed in an encounter with security forces in Kech district.

Published in Dawn, August 5th, 2016