Asif promises debate on new operation

LAHORE: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the government will allocate ample time for the opposition to discuss the proposed Operation Azm-e-Istehkam.

He made this announcement during a press conference in Lahore on Tuesday. Khawaja Asif asserted that none of the four chief ministers had opposed the operation.

“This operation has no political ambitions,” he said, adding that the federal government will ensure to provide satisfactory answers to the concerns of the Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) and other parties regarding the proposed anti-militancy operation.

The minister mentioned that the proposal for launching the operation was presented before the federal cabinet today and would subsequently be laid before parliament. He emphasised that the government would build a consensus among all parties. “Whatever their questions or concerns, they will be responded to satisfactorily,” he maintained.

During the press conference, the minister noted that several operations had already been conducted against terrorism in the past, and a new operation would not be surprising.

In response to a question, he said that four chief ministers were present at the apex committee meeting, and none had opposed the operation. Khawaja Asif said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had assured his government would support this action.

Responding to another question, he said the government aimed to combat the rising tide of terrorism and urged everyone to support Operation Azm-e-Istehkam. He insisted that the situation today was very different from when the National Action Plan was formulated after the Army Public School (APS) incident.

“Terrorists had occupied the areas of FATA, which had become no-go areas, but this is not the case today,” he said. “The government’s writ is established in these areas now.” He reiterated that Operation Azm-e-Istehkam would be implemented in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Khawaja Asif claimed that 5,000 to 6,000 Taliban terrorists were settled here, and their popular leaders were also pardoned.

“This move brought destruction. It did not bring peace but fragmented it. Terrorists were given shelter here,” he maintained.

The federal minister said that all the parties opposing the operation were securing their vote banks and urged them to take a stand for the country, not for votes. Speaking about past operations, the federal minister acknowledged the displacement caused. However, he maintained that the proposed operation would be intelligence-based.

“In a few days, the operation procedure will be clear. If the operation is agreed upon, there will also be an agreement on its characteristics,” he said, adding that the provinces must contribute financially to support the operation. He also insisted that the support of all institutions would be required in the present circumstances.

The minister said he had visited Afghanistan to discuss issues surrounding terrorism in Pakistan and noted that many others had also gone there. “The Kabul government expressed cooperation, but no concrete progress could be made,” he concluded.