RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces (COAS & CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has reiterated that terrorism emanating from across the borders will be crushed with full might of the state.
Field Marshal Asim visited the National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad, on Wednesday where he addressed the graduating officers of the National Security and War Course comprising participants from all services. He said the armed forces, with the support of the nation, will ensure that terrorist sanctuaries of these proxies along with their facilitators are completely dismantled. The field marshal remarked that the armed forces remain fully cognisant of state-sponsored attempts by hostile intelligence agencies to destabilise Pakistan. “Efforts of such proxies and networks, who operate under the tutelage of hostile intelligence agencies are futile and will not be allowed to undermine Pakistan’s internal security and economic prosperity,” he said.
In his address, the field marshal highlighted the evolving character of warfare and underscored centrality of strategic clarity and institutional professionalism in navigating complex strategic issues. He lauded the role of premier institutions like the NDU in nurturing future military-civil leadership capable of mitigating hybrid, conventional and sub-conventional threats with foresight, confidence and resolve. He also highlighted that Pakistan Armed Forces were recalibrating their employment and development strategies in line with the evolved character of warfare. The field marshal remarked that wars are not won through media rhetoric or political sloganeering but through faith, unity and discipline.
Meanwhile, addressing a news conference, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt-Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Wednesday said that India and its aligned enemy forces, operating with the facilitation of illegitimate Afghan regime, are behind three major terrorist attacks in Balochistan over the past four days
He said that 54 India-backed terrorists were killed, while 42 people, including troops, policemen and civilians, embraced martyrdom in the three major terrorist incidents in Balochistan over the past four days. He said the first incident took place on the night between July 4 and 5 in Hanna Urak, where militants attacked the local population. “Local residents fought back valiantly and forced those terrorists belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al-Hindustan to flee,” he said, adding that four civilians were martyred and six others were injured during the attack.
The ISPR DG further said the second incident occurred on July 6 at a police checkpoint near the Mangi Dam pumping station. He said India-backed terrorists attacked the checkpoint, but police personnel fought the terrorists bravely and killed 15 militants during the initial engagement. The military spokesperson said nine police personnel embraced martyrdom in the initial fighting. He added that before security forces reached the area, the militants had taken police personnel hostage.
“The terrorists left the bodies of 15 militants at the scene,” Lt-Gen Chaudhry said, adding that all the hostage police personnel belonged to Balochistan. He further said security forces carefully tightened the cordon around the militants because “our children were being held hostage.” He said security forces remained engaged with the militants in the mountains of Ziarat from July 6. “When the terrorists realised the cordon had tightened, these cowards martyred 18 police personnel,” he said.
The ISPR DG said the deaths of 11 more militants had been confirmed during the operation, adding that the number could be higher. He said 27 police personnel embraced martyrdom in the Mangi checkpoint attack, while 26 militants were killed in that operation.
Lt-Gen Chaudhry said the third incident took place on Wednesday in Bela, where an army convoy engaged militants belonging to the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA). He said 14 Fitna al-Hindustan terrorists were killed during the engagement, while one junior commissioned officer and 10 soldiers embraced martyrdom. The military spokesperson added that security forces also carried out operations in Kharan and Dalbandin on Wednesday, killing six Fitna al-Hindustan terrorists in Kharan and eight in Dalbandin. He added that a total of 42 people, including 38 security personnel, embraced martyrdom while defending the country in the recent Balochistan attacks, while law enforcement agencies had so far killed 54 India-backed terrorists in operations carried out in response to the recent attacks.
The ISPR DG said that New Delhi and the enemy forces aligned with India, who could not tolerate Pakistan’s respect, prosperity and progress, were involved in these terrorist attacks and they are using the land under the illegitimate Afghan regime as the base for operation. He said the majority of those terrorists who were engaged and killed were Afghan nationals. He pointed out that three out of four terrorists who attacked a workshop of Rangers in Karachi were Afghans. “The whole planning and provision of equipment was done from Afghanistan,” he said.
Lt-Gen Chaudhry said there was a mastermind, a scheme, intent and logistic support behind all the terrorist acts, which were carried out at multiple locations in Balochistan. “The Afghan regime is providing all the manpower and facilitation to carry out these acts because you have a problem with Pakistan’s respect and progress,” he said. He said the enemy forces could see Balochistan, a jewel of the face of Pakistan. “Prosperity of Pakistan is a reality which nobody can deny,” he said.
The ISPR DG maintained that the Armed Forces of Pakistan, under the leadership of field marshal and under the guidance of federal government, have absolute clarity as to what to do with these enemies. “We will hunt down and hurt you everywhere,” he said, adding that the government and people of Balochistan have more clarity on the issue.
He said the state of Pakistan, for the last three years, has absolute clarity that these enemies have nothing to do with Islam, Balochistan or its people, adding they were upset over the expulsion of illegal Afghans and wanted to deter the state of Pakistan with such acts. “There is nobody in the world who can deter the state of Pakistan,” he said. Lt-Gen Chaudhry said every terrorist and those who facilitate, harbour and provide them bases would be taken on everywhere, saying nobody should expect any rationality or patience from the state of Pakistan. “Do not expect any rationality or patience from us, and that we will talk to you if you target our children, brave policemen, soldiers and innocent citizens,” he said. The ISPR DG said he wanted to communicate that Pakistan would win the war against terror being fought by the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and citizens because the state is on the right path and it wants to safeguard Pakistan and its people.
