Azm-e-Istehkam to check cross-border terror

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Thursday that terrorist sanctuaries of the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) across the border could be targeted as part of the Azm-e-Istehkam campaign, stressing that targeting those redoubts would not be any violation of the international law.

In an interview with the American news agency, the minister stated that the decision to launch Azm-e-Istehkam was not taken in haste, rather it was necessary in the wake of the economic issues facing the country. He repeated that the government was ready to brief the opposition parties on its contours.

“The decision about Azm-e-Istehkam was taken because of the economic difficulties, and it may also target TTP’s sanctuaries across the border,” Asif said. “Targeting terrorist shelters in Afghanistan is not a violation of international laws because terrorism is being exported to Pakistan from there.”

The defence minister said that 4,000 members of TTP sleeper cell in Afghanistan were brought back to Pakistan on the orders of former prime minister Imran Khan and they were those who had been fomenting unrest in the country. “Nothing more important than national security,” he said.

Speaking about the opposition’s stand on the issue, Asif acknowledged that there was such a political environment in the country in which political parties did not want to give space to the government decisions more than their own interests.

However, he added that whatever concerns those political parties had regarding Azm-e-Istehkam, would be removed. “The government will bring this matter to the assembly so that the questions and concerns of the members can be answered, and they are taken into confidence,” he said. “This is also our duty.”

When asked about Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s call for talks with the Taliban, Asif denied any talks with the outlawed TTP. He emphasised that there was no such ground for any such negotiations.

He also referred to resettlement of the Taliban militants in Pakistan during the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government. “The PTI government brought back the 4,000 to 5,000 Taliban after negotiations. If that experiment was successful, let us know we can replicate it,” he said.

Responding to another question about the stance of the K-P’s government Asif said: “As far as I have observed, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has not opposed the Azm-e-Istehkam initiatve at any stage so far.”

He repeated that the government was ready to talk to the opposition. “We want to talk to the opposition and all political parties in order to make the campaign successful. The cabinet has approved it and if they [opposition parties] want, it can be discussed in the Assembly or in an all parties conference.”

The defence minister further said that all the previous military operations were successful, adding that the Pakistan Army was the biggest stakeholder at that time and still today. However, he said that after the operation, all civilian governments failed to play their due role.