Amidst concerns expressed by India over the military operation in Balochistan, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said the action against tribals and nationalists in the province, who were agitating for more autonomy, would continue till the "writ" of the government is established there.
The government would ensure protection of important national installations and continue with the development activities, which are people-focussed and need of that area, he said.
Paramilitary forces in Pakistan continued operations against the nationalists and tribals who were up in arms against the government opposing the construction of the cantonments there.
Opposition parties in Islamabad, however, have criticised the government for using military power to crush the rebels.
Pakistan took exception to the concern expressed by India over the army using helicopter gunships and jet fighters to bombard rebel positions.
The Corps Commanders reviewed the internal and external security situation, operational preparedness, training and other matters of professional interest.
Musharraf paid rich tributes to Pakistan Army troops who were engaged in relief operations despite adverse weather conditions in the earthquake-affected areas of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and North West Frontier Province.
In his speech, Musharraf also stressed the need for construction of more dams in Pakistan. Currently political parties in NWFP and Sindh province are agitating against his plans to construct the Kalabagh dam.
While the dam was opposed in NWFP as the people feared that it would inundate many areas, it was opposed in Sindh on the grounds that it would deprive the province of water from Indus river.
He also apprised the participants of the conference of Water Vision 2020. He talked at length on the impact of water on a country like Pakistan, which has a agro-based economy and is also in dire need of cheap electricity for industrial growth.
The participants of the conference were also briefed by Federal Relief Commissioner Major General Farooq Ahmed Khan and Chairman Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority Lieutenant General Muhammad Zubair on the ongoing relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation works in the earthquake-hit areas.
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