Army Chief Says Pakistan Has Shown Patience, Warns Against Use of Afghanistan for Cross-Border Attacks
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir reaffirmed on Thursday that Pakistan desires peace with all its neighbours, including Afghanistan, but issued a firm warning that cross-border terrorism from Afghan territory will not be tolerated.
According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army chief made these remarks during a visit to Peshawar, where he held an interactive session with a jirga of tribal elders and later received a detailed briefing at Headquarters 11 Corps on the prevailing security environment, counterterrorism operations, and measures to ensure stability along the Pak-Afghan border.
‘Pakistan Has Exercised Patience Despite Continued Provocations’
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated in recent weeks, with border clashes and mutual accusations souring relations. Islamabad has repeatedly urged Kabul to prevent the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from using Afghan territory for cross-border attacks — a charge the Taliban administration denies.
Field Marshal Munir highlighted that Pakistan had shown “remarkable restraint” and made multiple diplomatic and economic overtures to Afghanistan in pursuit of peace. “Despite the continuation of cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan, Pakistan has exercised patience and extended numerous goodwill gestures to improve bilateral relations,” the ISPR quoted him as saying.
However, he warned that the Afghan Taliban regime had failed to act decisively against Indian-sponsored terror proxies, referring to them as Fitna al-Khawarij (a term used for TTP militants) and Fitna al-Hindustan, a reference to Balochistan-based separatist groups allegedly backed by India.
“The Afghan Taliban regime has been providing all possible assistance to these groups instead of curbing their activities,” the military statement added.
‘Pakistan Will Be Cleansed of Terrorism’
During his interaction with tribal elders, the COAS assured that Pakistan — especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — will be cleansed of terrorists and their facilitators. He praised the “steadfast and unconditional support” of the local tribes, particularly during recent tensions with the Afghan Taliban, and lauded their resilience and sacrifices in the long-standing war against terrorism.
The tribal elders, in turn, expressed full confidence in the armed forces, reaffirming their commitment to peace and unity. They rejected the extremist ideology of the Fitna al-Khawarij, emphasizing that it had “no acceptance among the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”
The meeting underscored Pakistan’s dual approach — pursuing peace through diplomacy while maintaining firm resolve against terrorism — as the country continues to navigate its complex relationship with Afghanistan amid regional security challenges.
