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Khawaja Asif: Bajwa, Faiz Hamid dealt with TTP, only gave us brief overview

Islamabad: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif disclosed on Monday that former army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and ex-Inter Services Intelligence director general Faiz Hamid handled the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan issue, providing only a brief overview to civilian authorities.

“They portrayed a positive picture of the situation in Swat,” Asif remarked during his address. He mentioned that during the briefing, politicians, including Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar, raised questions but were restricted in their participation.

The minister’s remarks follow the federal government’s decision, under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership, to initiate a new anti-terrorism operation titled “Azm-e-Istehkam” in response to a rise in terrorist incidents.

The decision was reached during a meeting of the Central Apex Committee on National Action Plan, attended by chief ministers of all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, services chiefs, chief secretaries, and senior civilian, military, and law enforcement officers.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the operation aims to coordinate multiple efforts comprehensively to combat extremism and terrorism decisively.

However, the move has faced opposition from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, the largest opposition party in the National Assembly, which has called for parliamentary discussion before approving the military operation.

“The federal government must debate this issue in parliament before sanctioning it. No Apex Committee should supersede this house,” PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar stated during a session in the lower house.

Reflecting on PTI’s tenure, Asif alleged that around 5,000-6,000 TTP militants were repatriated and granted refuge and amnesty. “The military conducts operations against terrorists, but the civilian government in this region fails to fulfill its obligations,” the minister emphasized.

Regarding interactions with Afghan officials, Asif remarked that he did not perceive animosity or hostility from Afghanistan toward Pakistan during his meetings.

His comments come amid repeated calls from Islamabad for the Taliban-led administration in Kabul to prevent its territory from being used by terrorist groups against Pakistan, a charge Kabul denies.

Asif also lamented Pakistan’s history of involvement in wars, citing past military leaders who he claimed pursued conflicts to extend their rule and influence. “We must introspect why we engaged in two wars. Are our soldiers to continue paying for our misguided policies?” Asif questioned.

Addressing the issue of mob violence, Asif highlighted instances where blasphemy accusations were used to settle personal vendettas and stressed the importance of defending minority rights in Pakistan.

“We introduced a resolution in the assembly against minority persecution, which was opposed by the PTI,” he noted, referring to a legislative initiative following incidents such as the lynching of a man accused of blasphemy in Swat.

Last month, a Christian man was fatally attacked by a mob in Sargodha, while a year earlier, over 90 Christian homes and 21 churches were vandalized in Faisalabad’s Jaranwala tehsil during riots.

Asif’s comprehensive remarks underscored the complex challenges Pakistan faces in combating terrorism, protecting minority rights, and navigating its relationships with neighboring countries amid regional security concerns.

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