ISLAMABAD: Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has categorically stated that in any Islamic state, no individual, group or organisation other than the state has the authority to declare jihad or issue a religious edict (fatwa) in this regard.
Addressing the National Ulema and Mashaikh Conference on Sunday, he strongly condemned terrorism targeting innocent civilians and children, stating that such acts were being carried out with the backing of Afghan Taliban. He said that nearly 70 per cent of the formations of Fitna al-Khawarij operating from Afghanistan comprised Afghan nationals, adding that Afghanistan would have to make a clear choice between supporting Fitna al-Khawarij or maintaining relations with Pakistan.
The CDF said Pakistan continued to face serious challenges, including terrorism and national security threats, but stressed that the nation had emerged victorious in Marka-e-Haq with the blessings of Allah Almighty. He said that during Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, the help of Allah was not only witnessed but also deeply felt by the nation and its armed forces.
Highlighting Pakistan’s ideological foundations, Field Marshal Asim Munir said there was a deep relationship and striking similarity between the State of Tayyaba — the first Islamic state established in Madinah — and the State of Pakistan. He explained that both states were founded in the blessed month of Ramazan on the basis of Kalima Tayyaba, which served as the cornerstone of their identity and purpose.
He said the reason for this similarity was divinely ordained, noting that among Islamic countries, Allah Almighty had bestowed upon Pakistan the honour of being the guardian of Haramain Shareefain. He added that this spiritual responsibility explained Pakistan’s historic and ideological bond with the State of Tayyaba and the broader Islamic world.
The army chief also termed the defence agreement with Saudi Arabia a historic development, reflecting the depth of strategic, ideological and religious ties between the two countries. He said Pakistan’s role as a protector of the holy places carried immense responsibility and demanded unity, discipline and clarity of purpose.
Field Marshal Asim Munir underscored the importance of knowledge, saying that nations which abandoned the intellectual and scholarly legacy of their forefathers inevitably fell into decline. He stressed that Islam places great emphasis on learning, wisdom and collective discipline, and that misinterpretation of religion by non-state actors had caused immense harm to Muslim societies.
Meanwhile, security forces eliminated nine Khwarij in two separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
On December 19, nine Khwarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al Khwarij were killed in two separate engagements in KP, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.
On reported presence of Khwarij, an intelligence-based operation was conducted by the security forces in Dera Ismail Khan district. During the conduct of operation, the troops effectively engaged the Khwarij location and after an intense fire exchange, four Khwarij were killed.
Another IBO was conducted in Bannu district. In ensuing fire exchange, five more Khwarij were effectively neutralised by the security forces.
Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from killed Indian sponsored Khwarij, who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against the security forces, law-enforcement agencies and targeted killing of innocent civilians.
Sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored Khwarij found in the area as relentless counterterrorism campaign, under vision ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’ (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan), by security forces and law-enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.
