Islamabad: Amid the rising incidents of terrorism in the country, the military leadership expressed deep concern on Tuesday over the use of Afghan soil by terrorists against Pakistan and demanded that the interim Afghan government take “effective and decisive measures.”
This concern was raised during the 267th Corps Commanders’ Conference, chaired by General Asim Munir at the GHQ in Rawalpindi. A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the forum called for concrete actions against the Khawarij faction by the interim Afghan government, rather than denial, and emphasized continuing all necessary measures for the defense of Pakistan and its people.
The conference took place following the martyrdom of 18 soldiers in Balochistan, who thwarted a “terrorist incident,” leading to the killing of 23 terrorists. According to ISPR, the terrorists attempted to block roads in the Killiat area of Balochistan on the orders of banned terrorist groups. This terrorist act, orchestrated by the enemy and hostile forces, was aimed at disrupting the peaceful environment of Balochistan.
ISPR further stated that security forces and law enforcement agencies swiftly responded and thwarted the terrorists’ plans, resulting in the killing of 12 terrorists and ensuring the safety of the local population.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir also visited Quetta and met with security personnel.
The participants of the conference paid tribute to the sacrifices of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies (LEAs), and civilians who laid down their lives for peace and stability.
The conference stressed the need to accelerate people-centric socio-economic development initiatives in Balochistan and acknowledged the importance of responding to externally supported narratives.
The forum also agreed that peace in Balochistan must not be allowed to be disturbed under any circumstances, and efforts to mislead and radicalize the youth of Balochistan would be thwarted with unwavering public support.
The Army Chief praised the operational preparedness of all formations and emphasized the importance of continuous mission-oriented training, enhancing military cooperation, and conducting joint exercises in both conventional and counter-terrorism domains.
The forum conducted a comprehensive review of the regional and internal security landscape, including discussions on the current situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and working border.
On Kashmir Solidarity Day, the forum expressed strong condemnation of human rights violations in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and deemed them a serious threat to regional peace and stability.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering support for the legitimate struggle of the Kashmiri people for their right to self-determination, the forum stressed the importance of addressing these violations on the international stage.
The forum also viewed the recent “irresponsible and provocative statements” by India’s military leadership with serious concern, describing them as detrimental to regional stability.
Army Chief General Munir, while addressing the forum, said: “These false statements by the Indian military indicate their growing frustration and aim to divert attention from their internal issues and blatant human rights violations.”
He added, “Any aggression against Pakistan will be met with a strong and decisive response, InshaAllah.”
At the conclusion of the conference, General Munir stated that the military leadership is fully aware of the national challenges and is firmly committed to fulfilling its constitutional duties with the unwavering support of the people of Pakistan.
