Back-door talks ongoing for Solecki’s release

Back-door talks ongoing for Solecki’s release

Friday, 27 Feb, 2009 | 01:02 AM PST |

Frontier Corps. Major General Saleem Nawaz adresses a press conference. - APP/File photo.

QUETTA: The Inspector General Frontier Corps, Major General Saleem Nawaz has said that some officials including Americans were engaged in back-door negotiations with captors of John Solecki, the Chief of UNHCR sub-office, to ensure his safe recovery.

He told reporters that security forces were not engaged in any risky operation that could put Solecki’s life in peril because the kidnappers would kill him and then blame law enforcers. He also denied any operation in any area of the province and said that FC retaliates when militants attack national installations.

The IG FC stated that According to his understanding the kidnappers have not been able to shift Solecki out of Balochistan because FC personnel have been strictly patrolling the Pak-Afghan border since his abduction.

He claimed that the kidnappers were using a fake name (Balochistan Liberation United Front) and that these people were also involved in other subversion activities in the province. He said that involvement of Nawabzada Baramdagh Bugti in this case cannot be ruled out.

Inspector General Frontier Corps said that all the three organizations involved in subversion activities do not want reconciliation and they have made repeated announcements to that effect. He said that the government was sincere in reconciliation and had released many important political leaders and workers after withdrawing cases against them.

He said that government was also giving full attention to development of the province by constructing roads, dams and many other development projects.

He said that Balochistan Assembly has representation of all Baloch and Pashtoon tribes and therefore people opposing the reconciliation process in the province were not loyal to their own people.

Major General Nawaz said that the people who were attacking people and national installations on the directives of their masters should lay down their weapons and join hands for the development of their province and the Baloch people.