Islamabad: Pakistan’s highest national security body has announced the launch of a fresh nationwide operation to uproot militants from the country.
The decision comes amid months of economic and political crises and the recent dispute over elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces.
The National Security Committee (NSC), a body of top civil and military leaders, agreed to launch an “all-out comprehensive operation” to rid the country of the menace of terrorism in its meeting on Friday.
A high-powered committee has been constituted to give recommendations within two weeks regarding the limitations and implementation of the operation.
“All political, diplomatic, social, and economic efforts will be part of the comprehensive operation to eliminate terrorism from Pakistan,” according to the statement.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the 41st meeting of NSC, attended by senior civil and military leadership, including Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Gen Sahir Shamshad Mirza, services chiefs and chief ministers. During the meeting, military leaders and intelligence chiefs briefed the participants about the country’s security situation.
The country has recently seen an uptick in attacks on its security forces by the banned militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The committee blamed the recent militant attacks as an outcome of a “soft corner” and a “thoughtless policy” towards the group.
Militants released from jails
The NSC statement indicated that “dangerous TTP militants were released from jails in the name of confidence building, allowing terrorists to return to the country without hindrance.”
The committee further added that the “peace and stability in the country were disturbed due to the return of these dangerous militants and assistance from various militant outfits present in Afghanistan”.
The meeting also acknowledged the sacrifices and efforts of the security forces for providing lasting peace to the nation and paid tribute to the martyrs.
The NSC commended the arrest of the founder of the banned militant group Baloch National Army (BNA), Gulzar Imam also known as Shambay, by the country’s top intelligence agency. Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude to the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for a “brilliant operation” that led to the arrest of the militant leader.
The NSC statement made no mention of the upcoming elections or the Supreme Court verdict. However, security analysts and local media suggested that the “civil and armed forces may not be available for security during elections due to their engagement in the operation.” Dawn, one of Pakistan’s leading newspapers, reported that “the NSC’s decisions to launch a massive operation may further shrink chances of elections in Punjab” after the court order to hold elections on May 14.
