Pakistan hints at launching attacks on militants in neighbouring Afghanistan amid rising violence

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Defense and Security Khawaja Asif hinted at the possibility of launching cross-border attacks against militants in Afghanistan on Thursday, ruling out negotiations with a proscribed armed network, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), in an interview with a foreign news outlet.
Pakistani officials have long blamed the TTP for a spike in militant violence, including deadly suicide bombings against the Chinese nationals working on various energy and infrastructure development projects, saying its leadership is based in neighboring Afghanistan and being facilitated by the Taliban government. However, the Kabul administration denies the charge.
Pakistan’s top national security forum on Saturday announced its plan to launch Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, or Resolve for Stability, to eliminate militant violence in the country, though the opposition parties criticized the decision and said the matter should have been discussed in parliament.
With the basic contours of the operation still not known in the public, the Pakistani minister was asked in an interview with Voice of America if it would also include possible talks with the TTP.
“What is there to discuss with TTP,” Asif said. “If there is common ground, then dialogue is possible.”
In response to a question about the possibility of cross-border strikes, he maintained such a scenario was possible if required.
“Nothing is more important than Pakistan’s territorial integrity,” he noted. “And TTP operates from Afghanistan, but they also have cells and cadres in Pakistan.”
The minister dismissed a question about whether cross-border forays would not be viewed as a breach of international law.
“Isn’t it a violation of international laws for terrorism to be exported to Pakistan from their territory,” he asked. “All the exporters of this terrorism are sheltered by them [the Afghan government].”
“If one party is violating all kinds of laws and not fulfilling the rights of neighborliness,” he continued, “then should we just fold our hands in front of them and say you are doing us a great favor?“
Asif said the government would discuss Operation Azm-e-Istehkam in parliament and try to answer all the queries of other political stakeholders.
He echoed the government’s stance over the issue, saying it was important to deal with militant violence for sustained economic progress in the country.