PESHAWAR: Tribal elders from different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in a meeting with Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir on Thursday expressed their unwavering commitment for peace in Pakistan and noted that the Fitna al-Khawarij’s twisted ideology had no acceptance among the tribes in the province.
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In a statement issued to media, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), Field Marshal Asim Munir, speaking in the occasion, again “emphasized that Pakistan seeks peace with all neighbours including Afghanistan”, but made it clear that Islamabad “will not allow cross-border terrorism to be perpetrated from Afghan soil” against the country.
And this unconditional support is of great significance as some elements have been trying to create confusion over the issue of military operations against terrorists, which the ISPR chief had previously described as a nexus between terrorists and criminals enjoying political support from certain circles.
Field Marshal Asim Munir’s remarks came on a day which saw the intelligence and special forces eliminating Qari Amjad — the TTP deputy chief — in Bajaur in an intelligence-based precision operation.
At the same time, the promise coincides with the latest round talks between Pakistan and the Taliban regime of Afghanistan in Turkiye, which failed due to the reluctance on the part of Kabul to give a written guarantee that the Afghan soil won’t be used against Pakistan.
However, reports emerged on Thursday that Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have agreed to resume their stalled talks in Istanbul following a request from the hosts.
JIRGA AND BRIEFING
During the visit, the ISPR said, the army chief “had an interactive session with a jirga of tribal elders in Peshawar”
Later, “he was given a comprehensive briefing at Headquarters 11 Corps, on the prevailing security environment, operational preparedness and ongoing counter terrorism efforts to maintain peace and stability along the Pak-Afghan border”.
According to the ISPR, the Field Marshal “appreciated the steadfast and unconditional support rendered by the tribal people to the security forces during the recent standoff between Pakistan and Afghan Taliban”.
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He paid rich tributes to the resilience and sacrifices of the brave people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in war against terrorism as the tribal elders reiterated their full support to the armed forces against terrorism and also against Afghan Taliban.
The chief of army staff highlighted the fact that Pakistan, over the last few years “has exercised patience and extended multiple diplomatic and economic overtures to Afghanistan” despite continuation of cross border terrorism.
However, Field Marshal Asim Munir said, the Afghan Taliban regime “has been providing all possible assistance” to the terrorist groups instead of acting decisively against Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan.
Meanwhile, he assured the tribal elders that “Pakistan, particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, will be cleansed of the terrorists and their abettors”.