Rawalpindi : Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, reaffirmed the country’s desire for peaceful relations with all neighboring countries, including Afghanistan, but emphasized that Pakistan would not tolerate cross-border terrorism emanating from Afghan territory.
During his visit to Peshawar on Thursday, the COAS held an interactive session with the Jirga of tribal elders. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), he expressed his appreciation for the unwavering and unconditional support of the tribal communities towards Pakistan’s security forces during the recent tensions with the Afghan Taliban.
Field Marshal Munir also lauded the resilience and sacrifices of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the fight against terrorism, recognizing their critical role in maintaining peace and security in the region.
The tribal elders reiterated their full backing for the armed forces in combating terrorism, including their opposition to the Afghan Taliban. In his address, the COAS stated that Pakistan sought peaceful relations with all its neighbors, Afghanistan included. However, he underscored that cross-border terrorism from Afghan soil would not be allowed to continue.
He acknowledged that despite ongoing cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan, Pakistan had shown patience in recent years, offering multiple diplomatic and economic initiatives aimed at improving bilateral relations with Afghanistan. However, he pointed out that the Afghan Taliban regime had failed to take decisive action against terror groups supported by India, such as Fitna Al Khwarij and Fitna Al Hindustan, instead providing assistance to these groups.
Field Marshal Munir assured the tribal elders that Pakistan, particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, would be cleansed of terrorists and their supporters. The tribal leaders expressed their appreciation for the COAS’s candid remarks and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace in Pakistan. They also made it clear that the twisted ideology of groups like FAK was completely rejected by the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The COAS was later briefed at the 11 Corps Headquarters on the current security situation, operational readiness, and ongoing counter-terrorism efforts to ensure stability along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Upon his arrival, he was warmly received by the Commander of Peshawar Corps.
