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Pakistan Army arrests chief of banned Baloch group
Gulzar Imam alias Shambay was arrested after an innovatively conceived, carefully planned and meticulously executed operation, says army
A file photo of BNA militant Gulzar Imam alias Shambay. — Courtesy Radio Pakistan
Pakistan's Army on Friday said it has arrested a “high-value target” and the founder of a banned separatist group in the country's Balochistan province in a successful intelligence operation.
Gulzar Imam alias Shambay was apprehended in a carefully planned operation that spanned months over various geographical locations, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, said in a statement.
Resource-rich Balochistan province, bordering Iran and Afghanistan, has witnessed several attacks in recent days, especially against security forces guarding the $60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects.
The military said the captured terrorist was a "hardcore militant", as well as the founder and leader of the banned Baloch National Army, which was formed after the merger of the Baloch Republican Army (BRA) and the United Baloch Army (UBA).
The statement, however, did not disclose the exact location where the militant was apprehended.
The ISPR described the detainee as a “high-value target” with suspected links to "hostile" intelligence agencies operating against Pakistan.
The report of the arrest surfaced on a day when a meeting of the Pakistan's National Security Committee (NSC) chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was taking place.
Since the talks with the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) broke down in November, the dreaded militant group intensified its attacks, particularly targeting the police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and areas bordering Afghanistan. Militants in Balochistan have also stepped up their violent activities and formalised a nexus with the TTP.
According to the ISPR statement, Imam was apprehended in “a high profile and successful intelligence operation”.
It stated that the BNA had perpetrated numerous violent terrorist attacks in the country, including targeting the installations of law enforcement agencies in Panjgur and Noshki districts of Balochistan.
“Imam also remained as deputy to Brahamdagh Bugti in the BRA till 2018.” His visits to neighbouring countries are also on the record, while his linkages with hostile intelligence agencies are being investigated, it claimed.
“The arrest of Gulzar Imam is a serious blow to the BNA as well as other militant groups, which have been attempting to destabilise the hard-earned peace in Balochistan,” the statement said.
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