Army in Balochistan for relief work, not for operation: Pak

Amidst reports that a military operation was imminent in earthquake-hit Balochistan, Pakistan army today said it was there only for relief work in the restive province.
"Security forces are in Awaran and Mushke, only for relief operation," ISPR chief Maj Gen Asim Bajwa said in a statement.
Dispelling a "misperception" which has been created by some media reports, Bajwa said security forces are committed in relief operation only, despite repeated attacks by miscreants on troops busy in relief work.
The statement added that security forces have exercised utmost restraint, despite killing of six soldiers in IED attacks and fire raids besides 12 soldiers being injured.

"There is no Military Operation in Awaran and Mushke as being propagated by miscreants. DG ISPR also appealed to the general public, to beware of miscreant's propaganda," he said.
Bajwa welcomed the media to visit Awaran and Mushke to witness the situation on ground for themselves.

Various part of Balochistan have strong presence of armed nationalist groups who have been confronting the Pakistan Army for a long time.
The army was recently able to enter Mushke.
Meanwhile, Chairman National Disaster Management Authority Maj Gen Saeed Aleem has said NDMA has almost completed the relief operation successfully in Balochistan with coordination of its provincial unit, Pakistan Army and provincial government.

In an interview with Radio Pakistan, he said NDMA has made food and other essential items available in Awaran district enough for at least two months' supplies.
He said over one-hundred and thirty-five thousand food packs, forty-six thousand tents, twenty-eight thousand blankets, twenty-thousand plastic sheets and at least twenty-three thousand mosquito nets have been supplied to quake-hita areas of Balochistan.
Aleem said each food pack is enough for fortnight supplies of a seven-member family, which includes flour, biscuits, milk, water and other ration.