Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir has warned against obstructing the army’s counter-terrorism efforts in Pakistan as the country deals with an uptick in terrorist attacks.
“Anyone who obstructs Pakistan’s security efforts and hinders their work will face consequences,” he said in his address to the apex committee meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif presided over the meeting. He told the members that “there was no other choice than to crush terrorism in the country”.
Heads of intelligence agencies, provincial chief ministers, and key federal ministers, alongside senior civil and military leadership, attended the meeting.
Discussions at the meeting included improving coordination between the provinces and the federal government, as well as effective sharing of intelligence information.
The committee examined the reasons behind the rising incidents of terrorism in KP and Balochistan and participants were briefed on the outcomes of intelligence-based operations.
Pakistan has seen an increase in militancy since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in 2021, with the Pakistani chapter of the movement carrying out attacks mostly targeting security forces.
In the recent past, terrorists have attacked civilians and Chinese nationals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Karachi.
Last week, seven security personnel were martyred in an exchange of fire with terrorists who attempted to attack a security forces’ post in the general area Shah-e-Mardan of the Kalat district in Balochistan.
“The Pakistan Army and law enforcement agencies are continuously addressing governance shortcomings, sacrificing the lives of their martyrs in the process,” the army chief said.
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“Every Pakistani is a soldier in the war against terrorism, whether in uniform or not,” he said and stressed the need for unity in the fight against the threat.
“We must all come together to confront the scourge of terrorism,” the army chief said and urged that the Constitution of Pakistan is “paramount” for everyone. He reiterated that the Constitution places the responsibility of both internal and external security on all citizens.
