New Delhi: The on-going mayhem in Baluchistan, which has left several dead in the last few weeks, has sounded alarm bells for the Pakistani regime with top politicians expressing serious concern over the spiraling violence, which could pose a threat to the country's integrity.

While former Premier Benazir Bhutto has opposed the alleged use of helicopter gunships in the military action "against the people of Baluchistan", her successor Nawaz Sharif has described the operations as "a conspiracy to dismantle the country", according to reports in the Pakistani media.

"A military operation against countrymen might cause a rebellion .... (and) the country might face an irreparable loss if military operations in Wana and Baluchistan were not stopped", Sharif's statement was quoted in the 'Daily Times'.

Demanding that the nation be taken into confidence on the military action, Bhutto, in a statement reported in 'The News' said, "It was disturbing that the armed forces were being taken hostage in Wana, troops attacked in Baluchistan, two assassination attempts made on the Army chief and another on a corps commander ... (these) were eye openers."

While the Pervez Musharraf regime has been denying that a full-fledged military action is being carried out in Wana and Baluchistan, provincial Chief Minister Jam Muhammad Yousuf has decided to take "indiscriminate and whole-hearted action" against terrorists there, 'Jang' said.