- “Pakistan could conduct operations inside Afghanistan.”
- Afghan authorities accused of sheltering TTP parts.
- State dedicated to rooting out terrorism at any price.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has signalled the potential of cross-border operations in Afghanistan towards terrorists, asserting that Islamabad will pursue terrorists wherever needed to guard nationwide safety.
Talking on Geo Information’ programme “Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath” on Tuesday, the defence czar mentioned Pakistan had repeatedly urged Afghanistan to take motion towards the banned outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), however inner divisions inside the Afghan Taliban had rendered them ineffective in addressing the menace.
He mentioned that in some situations, Afghan authorities had been even offering shelter to TTP parts.
An in-camera assembly of the Parliamentary Committee on Nationwide Safety — consisting of the highest civil-military brass — resolved to take care of the terrorist teams with an “iron hand”.
The committee additionally emphasised strategic and unified political dedication to counter the phobia menace with the total may of the state.
The high-level huddle got here after final week’s harrowing assault by the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Military (BLA) militants, who blew up prepare tracks and held over 440 passengers hostage in a day-long standoff with safety companies in a distant mountain go within the Bolan district.
Pakistani authorities mentioned that the BLA terrorists had been involved with their handlers in Afghanistan and have additionally reportedly sought solutions from the Afghan authorities over the problem.
In his feedback on Geo Information’ programme, Asif continued: “If we have now to resort to sizzling pursuit and enter [Afghanistan] to remove our enemies, we’ll achieve this. This can be a matter of Pakistan’s nationwide safety, not friendship. A [lenient] method will probably be detrimental to our safety,” Asif asserted.
The defence minister underscored Pakistan’s proper to focus on those that threaten the nation’s existence, army, and residents. “We’ll pursue our enemy, no matter the place they’re.
“These opposing motion towards such terrorists are working towards Pakistan’s pursuits. These parts had been introduced right here three years in the past to determine a non-public militia to remove political opponents if wanted,” he mentioned, hinting on the former ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.
In the meantime, Local weather Change and Environmental Coordination Minister Musadik Malik reaffirmed the federal government’s dedication to eradicating terrorism, stating that the state is at struggle with extremist parts.
Talking on Geo Information’ programme “Capital Speak”, Malik mentioned: “The federal government has determined to remove terrorists by focused operations, intelligence-based actions, or direct fight. This resolution has been made. We’ll take the struggle to the doorstep of those that are martyring our kids.”
Pakistan, as per a International Terrorism Index 2025 report, has emerged because the second-most terrorism-affected nation on the planet. Positioned on the second spot from its beforehand fourth place — witnessed an alarming 45% improve in terrorism-related deaths with the overall rising from 748 in 2023 to 1,081 in 2024 — one of many steepest surges globally.
The variety of terror assaults greater than doubled from 517 in 2023 to 1,099 in 2024, which additionally marked the primary 12 months that assaults exceeded the 1,000 mark because the inception of the Index. The rise in terrorist assaults, as per the report, coincides with the rise of the Afghan Taliban to energy in Kabul.