ISLAMABAD: As Christians celebrated Christmas on Tuesday in Pakistan with zeal and zest, the country’s top political leadership extended their good wishes to the community and vowed to provide equal rights and opportunities to all citizens.
Authorities, on their part, deployed additional law enforcement personnel to ensure tighter security for the occasion.
President Arif Alvi in his message extended his “warmest greetings” to the community in a statement released by his office. “Much more than festivity and celebration, the spirit of Christmas is to share, to reach out, and to love all humanity,” it read.
He commended the sincere efforts of the Christian community toward the socio-economic development of the country. “I also take this opportunity to pay a rich tribute to the sacrifices made by our Christian brethren in Pakistan’s fight against terrorism,” he said.
In his message, President Alvi added that the government of Pakistan upholds the principle of equal rights and freedom for all its citizens irrespective of caste, creed, or religion.
“We are committed to building a society that respects differences and finds strength in diversity; a nation that is tolerant and cohesive; and a state that provides equal rights and opportunities to all citizens,” he said, adding that “our Christian brethren are an integral part of our multicultural polity; and together we are building a strong and prosperous Pakistan, for ourselves and our children.”
President Alvi lauds Christian community’s sacrifices for Pakistan
President Alvi lauds Christian community’s sacrifices for Pakistan
- Vows to build a society that respects differences and celebrates diversity
- Authorities deploy additional law enforcement personnel for tighter security around Christmas
Pakistan says 641 Afghan Taliban members killed, over 855 injured in ongoing conflict
- Both neighbors have been engaged in fierce fighting since Feb. 26 after Afghan forces launched retaliatory attacks against Pakistan
- Pakistan information minister says 243 Afghanistan checkposts destroyed, 65 “terrorists and terror support locations” targeted by air
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has killed at least 641 Afghan Taliban operatives and injured more than 855 in the ongoing conflict between the two sides since last month, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday.
Fresh clashes between the two neighbors began on Feb. 26 after Afghanistan’s border forces launched attacks against Pakistani military installations. Kabul said the attack was in retaliation for Islamabad’s airstrikes earlier in February. Both forces have since then engaged in the worst fighting between them in decades.
Islamabad has said its airstrikes, which have at times directly targeted the Afghan Taliban government, are aimed at ending Kabul’s support for militants carrying out attacks on Pakistan. The Taliban has denied aiding militant groups.
“Summary of Fitna Al Khawarij/Afghan Taliban losses: 641 killed, 855+ injured, 243 check posts destroyed,” Tarar wrote on social media platform X.
https://x.com/tararattaullah/status/2031687512868159638?s=46
The minister said Pakistani security forces have destroyed 219 tanks, armored vehicles and artillery guns in the operation so far, and also decimated 65 “terrorists and terror support locations” across Afghanistan by targeting them with airstrikes.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained strained since the Afghan Taliban seized power in August 2021. Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant attacks across the country in recent months that it blames on militants it alleges are based in Afghanistan.
Kabul denies the allegations and insists that its soil is not used by militant groups for attacks against other countries.
While Afghanistan has voiced the desire for dialogue, Pakistan has repeatedly ruled out talks, saying it will continue targeting militant hideouts in Afghanistan through “Operation Ghazab lil Haq” till Kabul desists from supporting militants.
The ongoing conflict between both sides has put the region on heightened alert, as it already suffers from the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran.
