By Pakistani authorities presented a nurse they claim to have arrested over the weekend to state-run media on Wednesday, airing an interview where she answered questions about an alleged thwarted suicide bombing attempt. The government-organized broadcast took place in Balochistan province and was aired on national and local television channels.
The nurse, who identified herself as Adeela Baloch, said she had worked at a government hospital in the district of Turbat before being “misguided by terrorists” and recruited to carry out a suicide attack. She claimed she was arrested before she could execute the plan. Baloch did not name the group that allegedly enlisted her or describe the intended target of the planned attack.
This unusual public presentation occurs against the backdrop of Balochistan’s long-running separatist insurgency. The southwestern province has been the scene of numerous attacks by various groups seeking independence, primarily targeting security forces. Pakistan’s government has also been engaged in a broader fight against militants and insurgents across the country, a conflict that has resulted in hundreds of civilian and security force casualties.
The Associated Press could not independently verify Baloch’s identity or claims. Officials contacted by the AP declined to provide additional details, only stating that she would not face prosecution as the attack was not carried out.
This televised interview appears to be an attempt by Pakistani authorities to demonstrate progress in their counterterrorism efforts. It comes just weeks after the outlawed separatist Balochistan Liberation Army claimed that a woman was among a group of its fighters who killed over 50 people in the province.
The security situation in Balochistan remains tense. Earlier on Wednesday, a roadside bomb targeting police in Quetta, the provincial capital, wounded 12 people, according to local officials.
As Pakistan continues to grapple with various militant and separatist groups, this public display of an alleged foiled attack raises questions about the government’s tactics in combating terrorism and managing public perception of the ongoing conflict in Balochistan.
AP
