Islamabad, July 12: Pakistani paramilitary troops and police have arrested 35 wanted outlaws in two days after launching a new operation as part of a government drive to improve law and order, the interior ministry said today. The new campaign follows a string of terrorist attacks in the country.

The security sweep launched yesterday is focussed on Kashmore which is at the confluence of three of the country's provinces -- Baluchistan in the southwest, Sindh in the south and the central Punjab.
"We faced little resistance and have taken into custody 35 suspects in connection with robberies, murders and other crimes," an interior ministry spokesman told news agencies.


Kashmore, home to several independent tribes, is situated near the gas pipeline that carries natural gas from Baluchistan to other parts of the country.


Earlier this year the pipeline was targetted and damaged by suspected arsonists, disrupting gas supplies for several days and bringing hardship to millions of industrial and household consumers.

The operation follows last week's suicide bombing at a mosque that killed 48 people in Quetta, capital of Baluchistan, and the bombing of a commercial building in the southern port city of Karachi in which two people died.

The official did not say whether the latest operation was linked to the two terrorist attacks but said that the targetted area was known to be a refuge of bandits and fugitives.

"It is a clean-up campaign and will continue until the objective is achieved and the writ of the government is fully established," he said.
The official said that criminals had found sanctuary in the region after committing acts violence in other provinces.
The government has come under pressure after the recent incidents rekindled fears of renewed terrorist activities and deterioration in the overall security environment.

Bureau Report