ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken cabinet members into confidence over the scope and rationale behind the new counter-terrorism initiative, Operation Azm-e-Istehkam.
The government aims to initiate a national dialogue to combat terrorism and extremism across the country. PM Shehbaz has briefed the cabinet on the operation’s objectives, which were approved by the federal cabinet last month following recommendations from the National Action Plan’s Central Apex Committee.
Sources revealed that areas cleared of terrorists by security forces were handed over to provincial governments. However, due to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s failure, terrorists have reportedly returned to these areas.
In response to reservations from various political parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), Awami National Party (ANP), and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), the Centre clarified that the operation is not a “large-scale military operation” that would cause mass evictions. The matter will be presented in parliament for further discussion.
PM Shehbaz has decided to convene an all-parties conference (APC) to build consensus on the operation. PTI founder Imran Khan has expressed support for the initiative and confirmed his party’s attendance.
The Pakistan Army has also condemned the undue criticism and misrepresentation of the new operation, stressing that it aims to coordinate national counter-terrorism efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and ensure stability and economic prosperity. The military’s media wing, ISPR, highlighted that the criticism is being propagated for vested interests.
Pakistan has seen a rise in terrorist attacks in recent months, leading to numerous civilian and security personnel casualties. The government continues to urge Afghanistan’s Taliban-led administration to prevent its territory from being used by terrorist organizations against Pakistan, an allegation that Kabul denies.
