Pakistan Military Chief Briefs on Counter-Terrorism Surge
Surge in Attacks : Pakistan has experienced a significant increase in terrorist attacks, particularly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces. A 34% rise in terrorism was noted last year. New Operation : In response to the growing violence, the government and military leadership decided to launch a new, comprehensive counter-terrorism campaign called Operation Azm-e-Istehkam (Resolve for Stability). Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif clarified this will not be a large-scale military operation but part of a multi-pronged approach. Official Stance : The military leadership has reiterated that the fight against terrorism will continue until the last extremist is eliminated. General Munir has called for turning Pakistan into a "hard state" to tackle these challenges effectively. Afghan Border Tensions : A central issue is the presence of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) safe havens across the border in Afghanistan, from where attacks are reportedly directed. This h...