Terrorists came from Afghanistan, communicating with their handlers there, PM told

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Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and General Raheel Sharif  attended a high-level meeting on security at the governor house in Quetta on Tuesday.

The meeting was informed that the assailants had come from Afghanistan and were in contact with their handlers in the neighbouring country.

The heads of security and law enforcement agencies attending the meeting briefed the prime minister on the attack on the police training college.

At least 60 security personnel were killed, and 165 others were injured as heavily-armed militants wearing suicide vests stormed a police academy on Monday.

Three terrorists entered the New Sariab Police Training College, some 13 kilometres away from Quetta city. They headed straight for the hostel where police recruits were sleeping.

The meeting was informed that adequate security measures had not been taken at the police training college, even though there were prior intelligence reports that security personnel could be attacked soon, the sources said.

At the meeting, the prime minister also expressed concern over the authorities’ failure to make Quetta safe despite formulation of a well-thought out plan.

At this, the prime minister said the issue would be taken up with Afghanistan.

According to the sources, Prime Minister Sharif asked the officials concerned why the Quetta Safe City plan had not been fully enforced despite passage of considerable time since its preparation.

He said the federal government would have provided additional funds to the province had it been informed earlier that lack of funding had stalled its implementation.

At the meeting several other important decisions were taken.

The meeting was also attended by Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri, National Security Adviser retired Lt Gen Nasser Janjua, Commander of Southern Command Lt Gen Aamir Riaz, Home Minister Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti and others.

Read more: 60 killed, 165 injured in twin suicide attacks as militants storm police training college in Quetta

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif were among the senior government and military functionaries who rushed to the provincial capital as soon as horrors of the devastating attack on the Police Training College, Quetta, became evident on Tuesday.

During the course of the day, they attended the funeral of those killed in the terrorist attack and visited hospital to inquire after the injured.

According to reports, however, the most worthwhile engagement of the day was a meeting at which they discussed the attack, its implications and the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) as well as a plan aimed at making Quetta a safe city.

Read more: Balochistan govt announces three-day mourning over attack on police training college

The prime minister and the army chief, accompanied by Commander Southern Command Lt General Aamir Riaz, National Security Adviser Lt Gen (R) Nasser Janjua, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar, visited Civil Hospital to meet those injured in the attack.

They visited the bed of every injured cadet.

They were informed that cadets in need of surgical operations had already been operated upon. The prime minister asked the doctors to take good care of the cadets.

Earlier, the army chief visited the police training academy where he reviewed the security situation and was briefed on the attack by officials.

The army chief announced that Tamgha-i-Jurrat would be given to Captain Roohullah and Tamgha-i-Basalat to Naib Subedar Mohammad Ali.

Gen Raheel met police officials, and army and Frontier Corps troops who carried out the operation last night to clear the area and eliminate the attackers. The COAS appreciated the morale, courage and determination of security forces personnel.

The COAS was accompanied by the Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Rizwan Akhtar and the Director General Military Intelligence Major General Nadeem Zaki Manj, ISPR said.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri announced a three-day mourning period in the province to mourn those who lost their lives in the attack.

Read more: Army Chief Gen Raheel visits police academy in Quetta after massive terrorist attack

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