The federal cabinet on Tuesday endorsed the decisions taken by the National Action Plan’s Central Apex Committee, including the initiation of Operation Azm-e-Istehkam. This decision comes as part of a renewed national counter-terrorism effort aimed at intensifying actions against militants targeting Pakistan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assured the public that citizens would not be adversely affected during the operation, emphasizing that there would be no raids on homes. “Only intelligence-based operations will be carried out against terrorists,” the Prime Minister stated, according to sources.
The Apex Committee had previously given the green light to this military operation last Saturday, marking a revitalized push against terrorism. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) confirmed that the counter-terrorism initiative received unanimous support from all stakeholders, including the provinces, Gilgit Baltistan (GB), and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
Despite the consensus, opposition parties such as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam Fazl (JUI-F), and Awami National Party (ANP) have expressed concerns, insisting that Parliament should be consulted before proceeding with any military operation.
In response, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif pledged to address the opposition’s concerns. “We will create a consensus among the parties and provide ample time for discussion. All questions and concerns will be answered satisfactorily,” Asif stated.
Government Addresses ‘Misconceptions’
Amid criticism from opposition parties, the PMO issued a statement on Monday to clarify the nature of Operation Azm-e-Istehkam. The statement emphasized that no large-scale military operation was being launched. “The recently announced vision for enduring stability, Azm-e-Istehkam, is being misunderstood and compared with earlier operations like Zarb-e-Azb and Rah-e-Nijat,” the PMO clarified.
The statement highlighted that previous operations aimed to physically dislodge terrorists from no-go areas, often requiring mass displacement of local populations. In contrast, the new operation does not involve such large-scale actions, as no such no-go areas currently exist in the country. The ability of terrorist groups to conduct organized operations within Pakistan has been significantly diminished by earlier efforts.
Operation Azm-e-Istehkam is described as a comprehensive, multi-domain, multi-agency approach aimed at ensuring long-term stability in Pakistan.
Raza Rabbani Calls for Parliamentary Review
Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Raza Rabbani called for the formation of a Parliamentary Committee on National Security. This committee, comprising representatives from all political parties, would review Operation Azm-e-Istehkam. Rabbani stressed the importance of transparency and suggested an in-camera session of Parliament to discuss the internal terrorism situation and the involvement of foreign intelligence agencies.
Rabbani also emphasized that any new legislation for effective prosecution should be vetted by the Parliamentary Committee to avoid infringing on fundamental rights. He warned against enacting draconian laws under the guise of combating terrorism.
As Operation Azm-e-Istehkam moves forward, the federal government aims to address all concerns and ensure a coordinated, lawful approach to counter-terrorism.
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