won-t-tolerate-use-of-afghan-soil-for-terrorism-munir

Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, said on Thursday that the country ‘will not tolerate the use of Afghan soil for terrorism against our people’.

He made the remarks during a meeting with Ulema from the Ahl-e-Tasheeh (Shiite) community in Rawalpindi, according to an official statement. Referring to Operation Ghazab lil Haq (Righteous Fury), Munir stressed that Pakistan remains firm in its stance against cross-border militancy. “Pakistan will not tolerate the use of Afghan soil for conduct of terrorism against our people,” he said, reaffirming the country’s determination to dismantle terrorist networks and infrastructure targeting Pakistan.

The operation was launched on February 26 in response to what Islamabad described as attacks by Afghan Taliban forces along the 2,600-kilometre border between the two countries.

 

Also read: Pak forces strike Afghan hospital, 400 killed

He also called on the Afghan Taliban to ensure their territory is not used for launching attacks against Pakistan. At the same time, he highlighted Islamabad’s ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing regional tensions.

Munir underlined the importance of religious scholars in promoting national unity and countering extremism, warning that religious sentiments must not be misused to incite violence. “Violence in Pakistan, on the basis of incidents occurring in another country, will not be tolerated,” he said.

The attending Ulema voiced support for peace and stability, condemning violence carried out in the name of religion. They also expressed full backing for law enforcement agencies in their efforts to maintain order and security in the country.

Meanwhile, Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed on Wednesday to a ‘temporary pause’ in hostilities ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, following mediation efforts by Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar.

The pause came a day after Afghan authorities accused Islamabad of carrying out an attack on a rehabilitation hospital in Kabul that reportedly led to the killing of 400 people, further escalating tensions between the two neighbours.