70% of militant formations from Afghanistan consist of Afghans, he said at National Ulema Conference on Dec 10
CDF Field Marshal Asim Munir addressing guard of honour ceremony held at General Headquarters (GHQ) on Monday in Rawalpindi. Photo: ISPR
Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has said Afghanistan will have to choose between what he described as Fitna al-Khawarij and Pakistan, warning that a majority of militant groups infiltrating across the border comprise Afghan nationals.
Munir made the remarks while addressing the National Ulema Conference in Islamabad on December 10. While official details of the address were limited at the time, excerpts from his speech circulated publicly on Sunday.
He said militant groups were targeting Pakistani citizens, including children, and alleged that such activities were being carried out with the backing of the Afghan Taliban. He claimed that around 70% of militant formations infiltrating from Afghanistan consisted of Afghan nationals.
Addressing religious scholars, Munir said that in any Islamic state, the authority to declare jihad rests solely with the state, not with individuals or groups, stressing the need for unity and discipline in matters of faith and security.
Referring to May’s conflict with India, the army chief said Pakistan had witnessed what he described as divine support during Operation Bunyan al-Marsous, while citing Quranic verses during his address.
He also spoke of what he termed a conceptual link between the “State of Tayyaba” and Pakistan, saying both were founded on the principles of the Kalima Tayyaba during Ramadan.
Munir said nations that abandoned the intellectual and scholarly legacy of their forefathers, and the pursuit of knowledge, ultimately faced decline.
The conference was attended by religious scholars representing all major schools of thought from across Pakistan.
