“Operation Azam Istehkam is part of the National Action Plan, reservations will be removed”

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has said that Operation Azam-e-Istehkam is a part of the National Action Plan and the parties who have reservations about it will be removed.

While holding a press conference in Lahore on Tuesday, Khawaja Asif further said that after the APS incident in December 2016, a National Action Plan was made which was agreed upon by all political parties.

He said that the situation at that time was very different. At that time, practically, the government’s writ had expired in Swat and the then FATA and they had become no-go areas.

According to N, the situation is not the same today, there is a writ of government everywhere in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, in some areas of DI Khan, the Taliban are active at night.

Khawaja Asif said that under the National Action Plan, the apex committee was formed, this operation is also being brought on the same lines.

According to him, the chief ministers of all four provinces were present in the meeting and no one opposed it.

Khawaja Asif said that the operation will be included in the agenda of the cabinet meeting today.

According to him, ‘Opposition parties and allies will be given the opportunity to have a thorough discussion regarding the operation.

He said that whatever questions are being raised will be adequately answered.

Khawaja Asif further said that there will be a discussion in the National Assembly and the Senate on Operation Azam Istehkam.

According to him, the support of the bureaucracy and the media will also be needed regarding the operation.

When asked about the objections raised by some political parties regarding the operation, he said that they are taking a stand to protect their vote bank. They should not take a stand for their vote bank but for the country.

When asked about the nature of the operation, he said that there was displacement in the previous operation, but this will not happen now, instead, there will be intelligence-based operations.

He referred to Operation Radal al-Fasaad and Zarb Azab and said that peace was established after them.

On questions about the procedure of the operation, he said that the procedure will be formulated in a few days.

Khawaja Asif explained that “we do not have any political ambitions but we want the end of terrorism.”

He said that he also talked to Afghanistan and the government there showed commitment to cooperation, but no concrete progress could be made.

Khawaja Asif further said regarding Operation Azam-e-Istehkam that “Provinces should contribute to it, they have more funds.”