PESHAWAR, Pakistan: Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Thursday met tribal elders in Peshawar, where they pledged full support to the military in its fight against terrorism and against the Afghan Taliban.
The interactive session with Jirga of tribal elders took place during Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Munir’s visit to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa capital city, where he was also briefed on the security situation, operational preparedness and ongoing counterterrorism operations to maintain peace and stability along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, according to a statement issued by the military’s media wing.
Addressing the Jirga of tribal elders, Field Marshal Munir appreciated the steadfast and unconditional support rendered by the tribal people to the country’s security forces during the recent standoff between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban, according to the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The army chief paid rich tribute to the resilience and sacrifices of the brave people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the war against terrorism. On the occasion, tribal elders reiterated their full support to the Armed Forces against terrorism and also against the Afghan Taliban.
Field Marshal Munir emphasised that Pakistan seeks peace with all neighbours, including Afghanistan, but will not allow cross-border terrorism to be perpetrated from Afghan soil against Pakistan.
He highlighted that despite the continuation of cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan, Pakistan over the last few years has exercised patience and extended multiple diplomatic and economic overtures to Afghanistan, aimed at improving Pakistan-Afghanistan bilateral relations.
“However, instead of acting decisively against Indian sponsored terror proxies Fitna Al Khwarij and Fitna Al Hindustan, the Afghan Taliban Regime has been providing all possible assistance to these groups,” the army chief said as quoted by ISPR. Fitna Al Khwarij and Fitna Al Hindustan are state terms referring to the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist group and the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) terrorist group. Both the banned groups are operating from Afghanistan’s territory.
Field Marshal Munir assured the Tribal elders that Pakistan, particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, will be cleansed of the terrorists and their abettors.
The Tribal elders appreciated the candid discourse by the Chief of Army Staff and expressed their unwavering commitment to peace in Pakistan and highlighted that TTP’s twisted ideology had no acceptance among the tribes of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Upon arrival in Peshawar, Army Chief Field Marshal Munir was received by Commander Peshawar Corps.
