A critical analyzing of the statement of Army Chief, General Asim Muneer reveals the commitments of Pakistan Army with issues of national security, national integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan. In his meeting with Tribal elders at Peshawar, Army Chief clearly outlined his priorities for the security of country, especially against terrorism in clear wordings. He warned the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to stop its terrorist activities and accept the writ of state, since Pakistan and Pak Army will not negotiate with them. If at all, Pakistan felt a necessity to talk, it will talk to Interim Afghan Government, which has allowed TTP militants to stay in Afghanistan and provide them direct and indirect support towards their cross border terrorism in Pakistan. He also warned the supporters of TTP to shun their unlawful support to TTP. While addressing the Taliban Government of Afghanistan, he reminded them that “Is there any reward for good other than good”?
General Asim Muneer reminded Interim Afghan Government of its responsibilities and commitments that, Afghan soil should not be used against Pakistan. It was a clear message to both Interim Afghan Government as well as TTP that, there is no more space for any sort of militancy and terrorism against Pakistan from Afghan soil. For TTP there was a clear directive that, “The surge in terrorism in recent past is a futile effort on the part of terrorists to get the talks re-initiated, however, there is no option for these terrorists except to submit to the writ of state of Pakistan before they are decimated, if they persist on their wrong path.” Why to talk with TTP, the criminal and banned terrorist outfit. Indeed, those who initiated talks with TTP have given space to this terrorist group which needs to combated and eliminated as an anti-Pakistan cluster.
TTP and its splinter groups have killed thousands of innocent Pakistanis and thousands of our soldiers in last two decades. Indeed, former Government of Imran Khan has persuaded Taliban Government of Afghanistan to facilitate a negotiation between TTP and Pakistan which was amounting to compromise on the sovereignty of Pakistan. All those who did this must be accounted for this breech of national security, sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan. Indeed, there should be no space for all those who challenge the writ of the state and initiate militancy against state and its institutions. There should be no talks with TTP and sub-nationalists who violated the constitution of Pakistan picked up arms against, people of Pakistan.
The main objective of TTP terrorist campaign against Pakistan has been to force Government Pakistan to give them some concessions and areas for their own rule within the boundaries of Pakistan. Former FATA was the area; TTP has been looking forward for this type of set up in the first instance. Having achieved this concession they would have expanded their influence in other areas in a gradual process. Indeed, TTP is just a tool, planning to destabilize and insecure Pakistan has been going for decades. Establishment of militant groups like; TTP, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar (JuA) and similar other splinters groups was done in first decade of 21st, after US and NATO invaded Afghanistan. In the first two decades of 21st century, Pakistan was deliberately kept vulnerable from the perspective of security as well as economically. So much so, that US and NATO forces tried to exploit the Pakistani vulnerabilities many a time from 2004 to 2021. Nevertheless, Pakistani military remained alert against the nefarious designs of external forces and combated the well planned terrorism which was aimed to ruin Pakistan through direct and indirect strategies.
Pakistan is the only country whose security situation has deteriorated after take-over of Afghanistan by Afghan Taliban in August 2021. This is despite the fact that, Taliban take-over of Afghanistan was made possible because of hectic Pakistani efforts during negotiations between Afghan Taliban and US Government in Doha, Qatar. The process of NATO and US pull-out and Taliban take-over was quite peaceful. The support of Afghan Taliban to TTP and other militants reveals who attack Pakistan reveals that, there is a bigger agenda against Pakistan which external powers intends to implement against Pakistan through militants like TTP. Indeed, Taliban Regime in Afghanistan has full backing of the west, through NGOs and other organizations. Even India is covertly getting back to Afghanistan under various excuses. In last two years the attitude of the Afghan Taliban Government towards has been mostly unfriendly and arrogant. Taliban soldiers, guarding the Afghan border repeatedly disrupted the process of security fencing, undertaken by Pak Army. Taliban soldiers even removed the fence from a sizable portion of Pak-Afghan border which cannot be taken as an incident but a wilful act.
As revealed by media that after this unambiguous statement of Army Chief, the Supreme leader of Afghanistan Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada has declared attacks on Pakistan as Haram (forbidden). Nevertheless, this has to be seen through practical demonstration of Afghan Government in controlling TTP activities in the days to come. Pakistan is looking forward for a friendly and brotherly Afghanistan with peace in both countries. The loud and unambiguous statement of General Asim Muneer is a clear message that, Pakistan Army desires an end to militancy and terrorism against Pakistan from across the frontiers as well as within Pakistan. The external abettors of terrorists and terrorism must shun their nefarious designs against Pakistan. Besides, the domestic sympathizers of terrorists and terrorism must surrender to the state of Pakistan. Let’s there be No space for militants, sub-nationalists and those having anti-Pakistan sentiments.
— The writer is Professor of Politics and IR at International Islamic University, Islamabad.
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