Foreign agenda fuelling rift between public, army: COAS

Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir emphasised the unique bond between the people and the military, rejecting foreign-driven narratives attempting to create divisions, military's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

Speaking in Peshawar during a discussion with political leaders from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, General Asim Munir said, “There is a special relationship between the people and the army. False narratives of a rift are fundamentally driven by specific agendas from abroad.”

The Army Chief reaffirmed Pakistan’s policy priorities, stating, “Our policy is solely focused on Pakistan.” Addressing ties with Afghanistan, he said, “Afghanistan is our brotherly neighbouring Islamic country, and Pakistan has always sought better relations with it.”

However, he stressed that Pakistan’s disagreements with Afghanistan stem solely from “the presence of miscreants in Afghanistan and cross-border terrorism, which must be addressed.”

General Munir clarified there are no plans for large-scale military operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding, “No area in Pakistan is under the control of these miscreants. Intelligence-based targeted operations are conducted as needed.”

He urged unity against terrorism, stating, “The state must take precedence over politics. If the state is compromised, nothing else will remain. We must stand together, free from bias, to confront terrorism.”

The Army Chief also highlighted the importance of learning from past mistakes. “Humans are fallible, but failing to acknowledge mistakes and learn from them is a greater error,” he said.

On the National Action Plan, he commended the consensus among political parties but urged expedited efforts to implement its provisions effectively.