Islamabad (National Times) Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has clarified that Pakistan will not seek US support in conducting the Operation Azm-e-Istehkam launched to root out the menace of militancy from the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an interview with a US media outlet, he said that the decision to launch a new operation was not made in haste, adding that Pakistan witnessed a significant surge in terrorist incidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Central Apex Committee on the National Action Plan (NAP) last Saturday approved the \u201cOperation Azm-e-Istehkam”, a reinvigorated and re-energised national counter-terrorism drive, to eliminate terrorism from the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, opposition parties including the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) opposed the military operation, demanding that parliament must be taken into confidence about the new operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Referring to the opposition\u2019s criticism in today\u2019s interview, the defence minister said some political groups and parties are opposing the military operation for political point scoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPolitical parties\u2019 reservations on Azm-e-Istehkam will be addressed and the [operation] will be discussed in parliament,\u201d he said, adding that the opposition parties would be briefed on details of the operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also said that Azm-e-Ishtehkam is being opposed on “political grounds” as some parties prioritised their political interests over the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moreover, Asif said all All Parties Conference (APC) could be called to evolve consensus on the operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The federal minister maintained that terrorism is linked to the country\u2019s economy, saying that the economic condition couldn’t be improved until terrorism is wiped out from the country. \u201cHow the foreign investment would come without eliminating terrorism?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asif also said that China expressed concerns over Pakistan\u2019s security situation as the former wanted to see its neighbour economically independent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that Pakistan would be China\u2019s first priority if it improves the security situation. The defence minister said that the military operation \u2014 Azm-e-Istehkam \u2014 was also being conducted given the country\u2019s economic hardships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Responding to a question, Asif said cross-border elements were operating the banned outfit while some of its cells were working in Pakistani territory, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExporting terrorism from Afghanistan soil to our territory is a clear violation of international law. A party is violating the international law and not fulfilling its right as a neighbour.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Commenting on the expected adverse impacts of another military operation, Asif claimed that Azm-e-Istehkam\u2019s scope would be entirely different from past operations as it would not result in a large-scale displacement of locals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Islamabad (National Times) Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has clarified that Pakistan will not seek US support in conducting the Operation Azm-e-Istehkam launched to root out the menace of militancy from the country. In an interview with a US media outlet, he said that the decision to launch a new operation was not made in haste, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":84510,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-84509","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-national","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n