Military op to root out terrorists on the cards
ISLAMABAD: REFERENCES:
The National Security Committee (NSC) on Friday decided to launch a large-scale operation against the militants, with the country’s civilian and military leadership effectively issuing a case against the previous government and the establishment for allowing the regrouping of the banned TTP.
The summit, chaired by Prime Minister Shabazz Sharif and attended by department heads and top intelligence officials as well as top cabinet ministers, came with many breakthroughs — on political and security matters. . . .
All eyes have turned to the country’s top national security council, with speculation that the NSC may back the government’s decision to reject the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Punjab polls.
Although there was no explicit reference to the current political tension in the country, the CNVM acknowledged the deterioration of the security situation requiring a new large-scale operation.
The move could help the government advance its position that elections in the current circumstances are impossible in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
The climax of the NSC meeting was the decision to launch a large-scale crackdown on terrorist groups. It was the first time Pakistan launched another counter-terrorism offensive since 2016.
A statement issued after more than four hours of meetings from the prime minister’s office said the meeting agreed to launch “a comprehensive operation with the entire country and government, which will rid the country of the threat of terrorism with renewed vigor and … determination.” ”
“This comprehensive, comprehensive and comprehensive operation to eradicate the scourge of terrorism in all its forms from Pakistan will also involve efforts at the political, diplomatic, economic and social levels. In this sense, a high-level committee was also constituted which will give recommendations regarding its implementation in two weeks”, the statement also states.
Sources said that unlike previous military campaigns, the latest offensive will cover all sectors, including targeting those who use social media and other channels to hurt Pakistan.
The highlight of Friday’s meeting was that, for the first time, the civilian and military leadership publicly acknowledged that the process of resuming peace talks with the TTP has been slow.
The NSC linked the rise in terrorism to the earlier policy of appeasing the TTP, which was completely against the expectations and aspirations of the people.
“Not only were the militants allowed to return unhindered, but radical TTP militants were also released from jails in the name of confidence building,” the NSC said in a comment on the PTI government’s decision to seek a peace deal with the TTP.
The commission said the returning militants used their links with groups operating out of Afghanistan to carry out large-scale attacks in Pakistan.
It has never happened that the military leadership hides its predecessors because they followed a flawed policy.
The commission strongly condemns efforts to spread toxic foreign-sponsored propaganda against government agencies and their leadership on social media under the guise of ulterior motives. The statement said such actions hurt Pakistan’s national security.
Renewing its resolve to thwart the evil intentions of the country’s enemies, the committee said all possible efforts would be made to preserve the peace and stability achieved after enormous sacrifices.
