ISLAMABAD: Facing sharp criticism from the opposition, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday clarified that the planned counter-terrorism operations were meant to strengthen the ongoing Intelligence Operations (IBOs) rather than launching a new coordinated military offensive.
The clarification came after Prime Minister Sharif said on Monday night that the previously announced anti-terrorism operation was not a large-scale military operation, nor would it involve mass evacuation of local residents.
Prime Minister Sharif on Saturday announced plans to launch an all-out offensive dubbed “Azm-e-Istekam” (Resolve for Stability) to eliminate terrorism and extremism.
The announcement sparked a strong reaction from the opposition, with analysts saying that while Chinese concerns about attacks on its citizens likely influenced the Pakistani leadership, the timing of the new operation was driven more by domestic political and economic considerations.
However, due to stiff opposition to his actions, PM Sharif retracted his earlier stand. “The PM has taken his ministers into confidence regarding the misunderstandings and speculations regarding the ‘Azm-e-Istekam Initiative,'” the PM’s office said.
Sharif said the operation aimed to “definitively eradicate terrorist remnants, the criminal-terror nexus and violent extremism from the country.”
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the bulk of Operation Azm-e-Isteqam would be carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, two volatile provinces in Pakistan’s northwest bordering Afghanistan. “This operation will be a little different from the previous ones. We will start with action against terrorists. There is no political motive in the operation and its only objective is to counter the surge in terrorism,” he said.
“We fought two wars in American interests under Zia-ul-Haq and Musharraf regimes. But this operation is being conducted on our own terms and not at the behest of China or anyone else,” he said.
The Defence Minister assured that no evacuations would take place during the operation.
The clarification came after Prime Minister Sharif said on Monday night that the previously announced anti-terrorism operation was not a large-scale military operation, nor would it involve mass evacuation of local residents.
Prime Minister Sharif on Saturday announced plans to launch an all-out offensive dubbed “Azm-e-Istekam” (Resolve for Stability) to eliminate terrorism and extremism.
The announcement sparked a strong reaction from the opposition, with analysts saying that while Chinese concerns about attacks on its citizens likely influenced the Pakistani leadership, the timing of the new operation was driven more by domestic political and economic considerations.
However, due to stiff opposition to his actions, PM Sharif retracted his earlier stand. “The PM has taken his ministers into confidence regarding the misunderstandings and speculations regarding the ‘Azm-e-Istekam Initiative,'” the PM’s office said.
Sharif said the operation aimed to “definitively eradicate terrorist remnants, the criminal-terror nexus and violent extremism from the country.”
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said the bulk of Operation Azm-e-Isteqam would be carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan, two volatile provinces in Pakistan’s northwest bordering Afghanistan. “This operation will be a little different from the previous ones. We will start with action against terrorists. There is no political motive in the operation and its only objective is to counter the surge in terrorism,” he said.
“We fought two wars in American interests under Zia-ul-Haq and Musharraf regimes. But this operation is being conducted on our own terms and not at the behest of China or anyone else,” he said.
The Defence Minister assured that no evacuations would take place during the operation.
