In top commanders’ huddle, army vows to eliminate militants ‘without any distinction’
In top commanders’ huddle, army vows to eliminate militants ‘without any distinction’/node/2223401/pakistan
In top commanders’ huddle, army vows to eliminate militants ‘without any distinction’
Pakistan’s army chief, General Syed Asim Munir, presides over the 254th Corps Commanders Conference held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on December 28, 2022. (Photo courtesy: ISPR)
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army on Wednesday vowed to fight against militants “without any distinction,” the military’s media wing said, as the country grapples with a resurgence in militant attacks over the past couple of weeks.
The statement by the military comes after a powerful car bomb detonated in a residential area in Islamabad last week. The Pakistani Taliban have stepped up attacks on security forces since November, when they unilaterally ended a months-long cease-fire with the country’s government.
Earlier this month, Pakistani Taliban detainees at a counterterrorism center in the northwestern town of Bannu overpowered guards, confiscated police weapons and took hostages before Pakistani commandos stormed the compound and retook the facility.
Pakistan’s army chief, General Syed Asim Munir, on Wednesday presided over the 254th Corps Commanders Conference held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. During the meeting, the army’s huddle held a “comprehensive review of professional & organizational matters of the Army,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
CCC held @ GHQ. General Syed Asim Munir, COAS presided. A comprehensive review of professional & organisational matters of Army was undertaken. It was resolved to fight against terrorists without any distinction & eliminate this menace as per aspirations of people of Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/h7wLXx97bf
“It was resolved to fight against terrorists without any distinction & eliminate this menace as per aspirations of people of Pakistan,” the military’s media wing wrote on Twitter.
This week, the embassies of Saudi Arabia, the United States and Australia have announced new security adviseries for their residents living and working in Islamabad, advising caution in light of the uptick in militant attacks.
Militants have also increased attacks in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province where last Sunday, multiple attacks killed six troops and wounded 17 civilians.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Qatar on Tuesday agreed to deepen their strategic and economic cooperation during high-level talks between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Sharif’s office said.
Sharif visited Qatar along with a high-level delegation on the invitation of Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The Pakistani premier also held meetings with Qatar’s trade and defense ministers to discuss cooperation in various domains.
The visit came at a time when Pakistan is seeking closer economic engagement with Gulf partners amid its broader push to stabilize the economy and attract investment, while maintaining security and defense cooperation with key regional states.
During their meeting in Doha, PM Sharif and Qatar’s Sheikh Mohammed discussed bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and international developments, according to the Pakistan prime minister’s office.
“They reaffirmed the strong brotherly relations between Pakistan and Qatar and expressed satisfaction at the growing momentum in political, economic and institutional ties,” Sharif’s office said.
“Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, energy, defense, manpower and labor and culture, with both sides stressing the importance of their task force to accelerate cooperation in all these areas.”
Pakistan and Qatar maintain strong trade and investment ties. In 2022, the office of Qatar’s emir said the Qatar Investment Authority planned to invest $3 billion in Pakistan, targeting sectors including transport, aviation, education, health, media, technology and labor.
Nearly 300,000 Pakistanis live and work in Qatar, according to Pakistan’s foreign office, with many employed in health, education, engineering and public services, as well as construction and transport. The two countries engage through forums such as the Bilateral Political Consultations and the Joint Ministerial Commission.
Sharif said he had productive discussions with Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on how the two sides could transform their brotherly ties into mutually beneficial economic relationships.
“We also took stock of the regional situation,” he said on X. “Pakistan and Qatar will continue to work together for peace and stability in the region and beyond.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (second right) meets the Qatari Emir Qatar’s emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani (left) in Doha, Qatar, on February 24, 2026. (PID)
DIALOGUE WITH AFGHANISTAN
Earlier, Sharif and Qatar’s Deputy PM Sheikh Saoud Al-Thani discussed the situation in Afghanistan and called for dialogue to support regional stability.
The meeting took place amid renewed tensions after Islamabad carried out airstrikes last week on what it described as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) targets inside Afghanistan. Kabul said the strikes killed civilians and vowed to respond to what it called a violation of its sovereignty.
“Regional developments were also discussed, in particular the situation in Iran and Afghanistan,” Sharif’s office said in a statement. “Both sides emphasized the importance of dialogue, de-escalation and collective efforts to promote peace and stability in the region.”
This was the second time in less than six months that Pakistan conducted airstrikes in Afghanistan. The last strikes triggered heavy, weeklong clashes between the neighbors along their border before Qatar and Turkiye mediated a ceasefire between them in Oct. last year.
Separately, Sharif held meetings with Qatar’s State Minister for Trade Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed and a delegation of the Qatar Businessmen Association (QBA), highlighting Pakistan’s investment-friendly reforms.
He invited QBA members to explore opportunities in infrastructure, logistics, energy, agriculture, technology and export-oriented manufacturing, his office said.
