COAS Gen Asim Munir emphasizes unity against terrorism, reaffirms ties with Afghanistan

PESHAWAR: Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir has reiterated Pakistan’s desire for positive relations with Afghanistan, saying that differences arise only over the presence of extremist elements and cross-border terrorism.

Speaking to political leaders in Peshawar, General Asim Munir highlighted that attempts to create a rift between the people and the army are being made by foreign agendas.

“The existence of the state is the most important. If there is a state, then politics can happen,” he said.

General Asim Munir clarified that no large-scale operations are being carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and targeted operations were carried out only on the basis of intelligence. He stressed unity against terrorism, saying, “Creating chaos is a big sin, and without the state, nothing matters.”

He stressed the importance of learning from mistakes and accelerating work on the National Action Plan, which has the collective support of all parties.

A day earlier, the army chief said that terrorism has no place in society and the efforts of the security forces to eradicate this evil are commendable.

He was given a comprehensive briefing on the current security situation and the ongoing counter-terrorism operations targeting Fitna-ul-Khawarij. The briefing was also attended by the Federal Interior Minister and the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.