Islamabad: The federal cabinet, on Tuesday, endorsed the decisions put forth by the Central Apex Committee of the National Action Plan, which includes Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, sources informed.
According to sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assured that citizens would not face inconvenience during the operation, and their residences would not be subject to raids.
“The operation will focus solely on intelligence-based actions against terrorists,” the Prime Minister was quoted as stating by sources.
This decision follows the approval granted by the Apex Committee last Saturday for the military operation, aimed at intensifying the national counter-terrorism efforts to combat militants targeting Pakistan.
The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the renewed counter-terrorism initiative received consensus from all stakeholders, including provinces, Gilgit Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
However, opposition parties such as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam Fazl (JUI-F), and Awami National Party (ANP) have expressed reservations regarding the military operation, insisting that parliament must be consulted before any such decision is finalized.
In response to these concerns, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif assured that the government would address PTI and other opposition parties’ apprehensions regarding the anti-militancy operation.
“We will strive to build consensus among all parties, including opposition and allies. Ample time will be provided for discussions on this matter, and all questions and concerns will be addressed satisfactorily,” Asif remarked.
Clarifying the government’s stance amidst opposition criticism, the PMO issued a detailed statement late Monday, dispelling misconceptions surrounding the operation.
“The recently announced initiative for enduring stability, named Azm-e-Istehkam, is being inaccurately perceived and compared with previous kinetic operations like Zarb-e-Azb and Rah-e-Nijaat,” the statement clarified.
It highlighted that earlier kinetic operations were aimed at physically removing terrorists from areas where state authority was compromised, often resulting in mass displacement of local populations.
The PMO stressed that Pakistan currently does not have such no-go areas, as the capability of terrorist groups to conduct large-scale organized attacks within the country has significantly diminished due to past operations.
“Therefore, there are no plans for a large-scale military operation that would require population displacement,” the PMO affirmed.
Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, the statement concluded, represents a comprehensive national strategy involving multiple domains and agencies to ensure enduring stability across Pakistan.
