Baloch parties ask international community to prevent 'disaster'

Quetta: Nationalist parties have appealed to the United Nations and other international organisations to send fact-finding missions to see the ground reality in Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan, where an army operation is under way.

Senator Sanaullah Baloch, a spokesman of the Four Party Baloch Alliance, said any delay by the international community intervention could result in a major human disaster here.

The province bordering Iran and Afghanistan has been the scene of clashes between Baloch tribesmen and government forces for several years. According to Baloch, more than 500 people, including civilians and security personnel, were killed in clashes since December 18. However, the government has denied the claim, saying only militants were targeted and killed.

"The situation is getting worse day by day. The UN and other international organisations should send fact-finding missions without delay. If such missions can play positive roles in Darfur and Kosovo, why not in Balochistan?" he said in a statement issued from Quetta, the provincial capital.