Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir has said that the incidents of terrorism on Eid Miladun Nabi depicted the ill intent of the Khawarij, who have the backing of state sponsors of terrorism.

“These terrorists and their facilitators, having no link with religion and ideology, are proxies of the enemies of Pakistan and its people,” he was quoted as saying in a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations on Saturday. The army chief was on a visit to Quetta.

On Friday, blasts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan rocked Pakistan. The terrorist incidents occurred on the day when the country was celebrating the birthday of Prophet Muhammad.

Blasts came as Pakistan prepares for an election due in January next year – while grappling with a political crisis, a crippled economy, and a surge in militant violence inspired by the return to power of the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2021.

Earlier on Saturday, caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti accused India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing, of being behind the recent terror attacks in Balochistan.

In a statement from the military’s media wing, officials briefed the army chief on recent terrorist attacks in Mastung and Zhob. The briefing was also attended by Federal Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti, Balochistan Chief Minister Ali Mardan Khan Domki, and provincial ministers. Senior civil and military officials were also in attendance. The participants offered prayers for the shuhadas of Mastung, Hangu, and Zhob incidents.

The army chief paid rich tributes to the martyrs.

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COAS Munir stated that terrorists would continue to face the full might of the state and security forces backed by a “resilient” nation.

“Our operation against terrorists would continue unabated and the armed forces, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies shall not rest till the menace of terrorism is rooted out from the country,” the CAOS said.

The army chief added: “People of Pakistan have rejected terrorists’ pseudo ideology and propaganda of their backers and they are fully committed to peace, economic progress & human development which indeed is causing a lot of distress to forces of evil in and outside of Pakistan.”

Moreover, the COAS visited the Combined Military Hospital in Quetta where he met with the injured and families of victims of the Mastung incident. He lauded the bravery and resilience of Balochistan police and law enforcement personnel.

COAS Munir assured the martyrs’ families of the army’s full support, adding that terrorists, their abettors, and facilitators would not be spared.

Earlier on arrival, the army chief was received by Balochistan CM and Balochistan Corps commander.