ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir warned on Thursday his country would not tolerate cross-border militancy from Afghanistan, accusing the Taliban administration in Kabul of supporting armed factions targeting Pakistani civilians and security forces, as tensions continue to mount between the two countries.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are currently negotiating with each other in Istanbul, in a process mediated by Türkiye and Qatar, following deadly border clashes earlier this month that left dozens dead and triggered the worst fighting between the two neighbors since the Taliban’s return to power in 202. Addressing the Jirga, the COAS appreciated the steadfast and unconditional support rendered by the tribal people to the security forces during the recent standoff between Pakistan and Afghan Taliban.
Munir’s remarks came during a visit to Peshawar, where he met tribal elders and received a briefing on the security situation and counterterrorism operations along the Pak-Afghan border.
While addressing a gathering of tribal elders, he applauded them for “steadfast and unconditional support” during Pakistan’s recent standoff with Afghanistan.
“Pakistan seeks peace with all neighbors, including Afghanistan, but will not allow cross-border terrorism to be perpetrated from Afghan soil against Pakistan,” he said, according to a statement issued by the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations.
The army chief pointed out that despite the cross-border militancy, Pakistan had exercised patience and extended multiple diplomatic and economic overtures to Afghanistan over the years while trying to improve bilateral relations.
However, he added, that instead of acting decisively against “Indian sponsored terror proxies” of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the Afghan Taliban had been providing all possible assistance to these groups.
Islamabad has long blamed India for backing these anti-Pakistan militant factions, though New Delhi denies the charge.
Munir assured the Tribal elders that Pakistan, particularly the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, “will be cleansed of the terrorists and their abettors.”
The statement said the tribal elders also reaffirmed their commitment to peace and said extremist ideologies had no place among the border communities in KP.
