Islamabad Defense Minister Khawaja Asif warned that Pakistan may attack sanctuaries of outlawed terrorist group TTP in Afghanistan under the newly launched military operation, ruling out any dialogue with the feared group as there was no "common ground" .
The government last week announced the launch of 'Operation Azm-i-Istehkam' to address the growing threat of terrorism following the Afghan Taliban's lukewarm support for stopping the Tehreek-i-group's use of its land. Taliban Pakistan (TTP). ) rebels against Pakistan.
In an interview with Voice of America, Asif said the decision to launch the counter-terrorism operation was not made hastily, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.
"The decision on Azm-e-Istehkam was taken due to economic difficulties, and it may also target TTP sanctuaries across the border," he told US state news network and international radio station.
The minister said he would not go against international law as Afghanistan had been “exporting” terrorism to Pakistan and the “exporters” were being harbored there, Dawn newspaper reported.
Asif said that although the TTP operated from the neighboring country, its cadres, numbering a few thousand, “are operating from within the country.”
He also ruled out any possibility of dialogue with the banned group, saying there was no common ground.
Asif blamed the government of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan for the resettlement of Taliban militants in Pakistan, the report said.
The Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government "brought back the 4,000 to 5,000 Taliban after negotiations. If that experiment was successful, let us know that we can replicate it," he said.
Regarding the opposition's criticism of Operation Azm-i-Istehkam, Asif said that the concerns of political parties would be addressed.
"The government will take this matter to the National Assembly so that members' questions and concerns can be answered and taken into confidence," he said. "This is also our duty," he said.
The main opposition parties, including that of Imran Khan, who was also nicknamed "Taliban Khan" for his support of the Taliban, the right-wing Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) of Maulana Fazlur Rehman and the secular Awami National. Ghaffar Khan's family party (ANP) opposed any new military offensive.
All these parties have their support in the restive province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, which has been badly hit by militancy. Parties like the ANP paid a high price in the war against militancy.
These parties have demanded that Parliament be given confidence before launching any offensive against militancy.
In an earlier press conference, Asif said: “This operation has no political objectives. "We just want to challenge and put an end to the rising wave of terrorism that has been occurring since the last few months."
He urged all components of the government, the judiciary, security forces, Parliament and the media to support the operation. “This is a national crisis, which is not only the responsibility of the Army but of all institutions,” said the minister.
The TTP, also known as the Pakistani Taliban, was created as an umbrella group of several militant groups in 2007. Their main goal is to impose their strict brand of Islam throughout Pakistan.
The group, believed to be close to Al Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban, has been blamed for several deadly attacks across Pakistan, including an attack on army headquarters in 2009, attacks on military bases and the 2008 bombing of the Marriott hotel in Islamabad. .
The government last week announced the launch of 'Operation Azm-i-Istehkam' to address the growing threat of terrorism following the Afghan Taliban's lukewarm support for stopping the Tehreek-i-group's use of its land. Taliban Pakistan (TTP). ) rebels against Pakistan.
In an interview with Voice of America, Asif said the decision to launch the counter-terrorism operation was not made hastily, The Express Tribune newspaper reported.
"The decision on Azm-e-Istehkam was taken due to economic difficulties, and it may also target TTP sanctuaries across the border," he told US state news network and international radio station.
The minister said he would not go against international law as Afghanistan had been “exporting” terrorism to Pakistan and the “exporters” were being harbored there, Dawn newspaper reported.
Asif said that although the TTP operated from the neighboring country, its cadres, numbering a few thousand, “are operating from within the country.”
He also ruled out any possibility of dialogue with the banned group, saying there was no common ground.
Asif blamed the government of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan for the resettlement of Taliban militants in Pakistan, the report said.
The Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government "brought back the 4,000 to 5,000 Taliban after negotiations. If that experiment was successful, let us know that we can replicate it," he said.
Regarding the opposition's criticism of Operation Azm-i-Istehkam, Asif said that the concerns of political parties would be addressed.
"The government will take this matter to the National Assembly so that members' questions and concerns can be answered and taken into confidence," he said. "This is also our duty," he said.
The main opposition parties, including that of Imran Khan, who was also nicknamed "Taliban Khan" for his support of the Taliban, the right-wing Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) of Maulana Fazlur Rehman and the secular Awami National. Ghaffar Khan's family party (ANP) opposed any new military offensive.
All these parties have their support in the restive province of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, which has been badly hit by militancy. Parties like the ANP paid a high price in the war against militancy.
These parties have demanded that Parliament be given confidence before launching any offensive against militancy.
In an earlier press conference, Asif said: “This operation has no political objectives. "We just want to challenge and put an end to the rising wave of terrorism that has been occurring since the last few months."
He urged all components of the government, the judiciary, security forces, Parliament and the media to support the operation. “This is a national crisis, which is not only the responsibility of the Army but of all institutions,” said the minister.
The TTP, also known as the Pakistani Taliban, was created as an umbrella group of several militant groups in 2007. Their main goal is to impose their strict brand of Islam throughout Pakistan.
The group, believed to be close to Al Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban, has been blamed for several deadly attacks across Pakistan, including an attack on army headquarters in 2009, attacks on military bases and the 2008 bombing of the Marriott hotel in Islamabad. .
