ISLAMABAD:
The army commander issued a severe warning to the temporary Afghan Taliban administration on Friday, stating that Pakistan would respond effectively to recent terrorist assaults. The warning was in response to the presence of the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) across the border.
At least nine soldiers embraced martyrdom in the recent terrorist attack in Zhob, which was discussed during General Asim Munir’s visit to the Quetta Garrison. Terrorists have carried out a string of strikes in recent weeks, and this one was the most recent.
According to a statement released by ISPR, the army chief has expressed grave concerns regarding “safe havens” of TTP in Afghanistan.
“The Armed Forces of Pakistan have serious concerns on the safe havens and liberty of action available to TTP in Afghanistan,” the statement read.
The head of the Afghan military was quoted as saying, “It is expected that the interim Afghan Government would not allow the use of its soil to perpetrate terror against any country, in the real sense and in line with commitments made in the Doha Agreement.”
Recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan have been carried out by Afghan nationals, General Munir has disclosed.
There is also “another important concern that needs to be addressed,” the army commander stated, and that is “the involvement of Afghan nationals in acts of terrorism in Pakistan.”
“Such attacks are intolerable and would elicit effective response from the Security Forces of Pakistan,” he said.
He also assured the public that anti-terrorist operations would proceed as planned and that the military would remain vigilant until the threat of terrorism was eliminated.
The comment from the army chief shows that Pakistan is frustrated by the lack of cooperation from the Afghan Taliban in dealing with the TTP threat.
In a recent statement, the Afghan Taliban spokesperson said that the interim government would not permit Afghan land to be used against any country, and that Pakistan was responsible for dealing with the TTP.
Conflict between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban has escalated over the TTP. The parties were unable to come to an agreement on how to handle the situation despite their best efforts.
The Taliban in Afghanistan are reluctant to take action against the TTP and its leadership, and this is the root of the problem. According to Pakistan, the TTP and its leadership were free to operate in Afghanistan.
After seizing power in August 2021, the Afghan Taliban attempted to mediate peace talks between Pakistan and the TTP. The two sides did make some headway in their negotiations at first, with the TTP announcing a truce and Pakistan agreeing to release some militants. As a further confidence-building step, Islamabad permitted hundreds of TTP fighters to return.
This plan backfired, however, as terrorists who had returned to the area began attacking security personnel.
In November of last year, a day before a leadership transition at the GHQ, the TTP declared an end to the truce.
After a shift in command, civilian and military officials acknowledged that their previous approach of trying to negotiate with the TTP was foolish.
Pakistan has stopped trying to negotiate with the TTP and has instead urged the Taliban in Afghanistan to eliminate the outlawed group.
However, the Afghan Taliban’s insistence on peace talks between Pakistan and the TTP has stymied those efforts thus far.
The current comment by the army chief, however, suggests that there is little interest in dialogue between the Pakistani government and TTP.
The COAS was greeted by the Commander of the Quetta Corps upon his arrival. The army chief visited the injured soldiers at CMH in Quetta, where he praised their bravery and thanked them for their devotion to the country.
Iran’s Army Commander
General Asim, meantime, is in Tehran for a couple of days on official business. Since his appointment as army chief in November of last year, this is his first trip to Iran.
According to a statement released by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (ISPR), “the COAS will meet Iranian military and civilian leadership during his visit to Iran.”
The statement went on to say that “the COAS will discuss bilateral matters related to defence and security cooperation” during the visit.
