Pakistan Burns Amid Widespread Protests

Pakistan is on a high alert as there is widespread tension after the Pakistani army killed senior Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti in a military offensive in Balochistan. Violent protests have been witnessed in cities like Quetta and Karachi and as angry mobs are targeting the government machinery. Clearly in damage control mode the Pakistani government has said that Bugti's killing was accidental and has placed Baloch capital Quetta under an indefinite curfew.

The Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf had praised the Pakistan army for killing popular Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti, but now faces a violent protest on his hands that is fast spreading.

According to some sections of the Pakistani media, the Pakistani government has decided to invite Baloch rebels for a political dialogue in order to resolve the current crisis but it remains to be seen whether Baloch's still trusted the present Pakistani government.

Meanwhile India's ministry of external affairs MEA has termed the killing of Bugti as a tragic loss and has pressed for the need for a peaceful dialogue to address the grievances and aspirations of the people of Balochistan

Hours after MEA's reaction on Baloch, Pakistan Foreign Office said India should rather focus on putting its ‘own house in order’ and do the same in its areas afflicted by insurgencies.

Pakistan said New Delhi's ‘ill-advised’ concern amounted to "blatant interference in the internal affairs" of a neighboring country.