PM Imran, COAS see 'foreign hand' at play in tribal districts

Civil, military leadership believes external hands trying to instigate unrest by exploiting woes

PESHAWAR/ MOHMAND: The country’s top civil and military leadership have indicated the involvement of foreign elements in trying to stir up trouble in the erstwhile tribal areas.

Speaking at separate occasions on Thursday, Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa both pointed out that external forces were at work to instigate unrest in the country’s north.

Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony of Mohmand Dam, the prime minister asked each province to give up 3% of their share from the federal divisible pool for the development of the tribal districts as foreign elements were exploiting the situation and inciting the youth there to violence.



“I see a foreign-funded conspiracy under way to instigate the youth in tribal districts [against the state],” he maintained.

He said the youth could be moulded in any direction if their deprivation and marginalisation did not end. “Hence, it is upon us to support them.”

In an interaction with university students at the Corps Auditorium Peshawar, the army chief said a few individuals were pursuing a foreign agenda and exploiting the sentiments of terror victims.

“The Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement [PTM] itself isn't an issue. The issues being highlighted are genuine and natural in the post-operation environment,” the ISPR quoted the COAS as saying.

“However, a few individuals playing in foreign hands are by design exploiting the sentiments of the people who have actually suffered at the hands of terrorism and now need care.”

The development comes a few days after military spokesperson Major General Asif Ghafoor signalled taking legal action against the leadership of PTM, accusing it of being at the payroll of foreign hostile intelligence agencies.

The army chief reiterated that both the government and the security forces were working to address the issues of the people of tribal areas without any discrimination.



“For us progress towards enduring peace through socio-economic development comes first and we shall fail all inimical forces and their conspiracies trying to undo our gains,” he said.

Pakistan, the COAS said, was blessed with dynamic and talented youth and future of the country belonged to them. “It’s time now to have its dividends through socio-economic development in which education is most important.”