Pakistan claims to have had some success in destroying ‘‘outlaws’ camps’’ in its troubled Balochistan province even as a human rights group described the situation as ‘‘alarming’’ and asked the government to initiate dialogue with rebels to restore normalcy.‘‘Paramilitary forces have eliminated outlaws’ camps up to some extent’’ in operations in different regions of Kohlu district, Balochistan home minister Mir Mohammad Shoaib Nausherwani was quoted as saying by local daily Dawn on Thursday.Asserting that action was in progress against the ‘‘terrorist network,’’ he said the government was determined to destroy it for so as to facilitate a development process that would bring the backward province to the same level as other developed regions of the country.The government has decided to restore the writ of law and it will take all possible steps in this regard, Nausherwani said, adding that the government had launched various mega projects for the upliftment of the province but ‘‘some elements’’ were opposing the move. Nausherwani also dismissed as ‘‘wrong and negative propaganda’’ allegations that the forces were targeting civilians during operations.Meanwhile, a team from Pakistan’s Human Rights Commission visited Kohlu for an on-the-spot assessment and asked the government to initiate a political dialogue with the Baloch political leadership to normalise the ‘‘alarming situation’’.Commission chairperson Asma Jehangir said that Balochistan was being pushed towards isolation, but the Commission would highlight ‘‘excesses, oppression and violation’’ of human rights against the people of the province.She alleged that the government created security problems in Kohlu to justify the establishment of military checkposts, where, she said, the team had seen people being ‘‘humiliated’’. Leaders of the Marri tribe, one of the tribes alleged to have been targeted in the government crackdown, told the commission that about 120 tribesmen had been killed in recent bombings.Balochistan bordering Iran and Afghanistan has experienced a stand off between Baloch tribes and the Pakistan army for the past few years. The tribal leaders, who call themselves Baloch Nationalists, are opposed to the establishment of military cantonments and Chinese-sponsored development programmes, alleging that they were aimed at changing the demographic pattern of the province.
