ISLAMABAD: A full-scale military operation against militancy and separatist groups in Balochistan was approved by the National Action Plan (NAP) apex council on Tuesday.
Under Azm-i-Istehkam’s vision, the committee reaffirmed its commitment to revitalize the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (Nacta) in order to combat resurgent terrorism.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who presided over the meeting, vowed to put an end to the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which has been linked to recent attacks on the province’s security personnel and civilians.
All chief ministers, the prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, members of the federal cabinet, top officials, and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Asim Munir attended the meeting.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), “the participants also approved a comprehensive military operation against terrorist organizations operating in Balochistan, including the Majeed Brigade, BLA, BLF (Balochistan Liberation Front), and BRAS (Baloch Raaji Aajoi Sangar).” These groups target innocent civilians and foreign nationals in an effort to impede Pakistan’s economic progress by causing insecurity at the behest of hostile external powers.
According to the report, the COAS reaffirmed the Pakistan Army’s steadfast commitment to eradicating any threats to national security and assisting the government in its efforts to maintain peace and stability.
The topic of the apex committee meeting was “Reinvigorating Pakistan’s Counter-Terrorism Campaign.” Among other things, attendees received briefings on how to combat terrorism, act against attempts to incite sub-nationalism, combat religious extremism, and combat disinformation tactics.
In order to effectively handle these complex issues, the committee emphasized the necessity of a unifying national narrative and a single political voice.
In order to revitalize the national counterterrorism campaign within the framework of Vision Azm-i-Istehkam, it was emphasized that full national consensus and cross-party political backing are essential.
Cell for threat assessment
According to the PMO statement, “it was also agreed upon to revitalize NACTA and establish the National and Provincial Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Center.”
To fully address these difficulties, a whole-of-system approach was chosen, combining military, socioeconomic, informational, diplomatic, political, and intelligence activities.
In order to smoothly implement federal and provincial directions, the committee also resolved to create district coordination committees under the provincial apex committees.
Speaking to the attendees, the prime minister stated that the nation was headed toward stability because of the economic endeavors and genuine intentions of all government players, from the federation to the province chief ministers.
He claimed that political and economic stability were intertwined and that without these two essential components, no civilization could hope to advance. He went on to say that “all the leadership should play their due role for the economic and political stability.”
The prime minister emphasized that peace and an end to terrorism were essential to the nation’s development and prosperity.
“Progress or sit-ins?”
PM Shehbaz asked the main opposition party to consider whether it desired sit-ins or the advancement of the nation, as the meeting was held just days before PTI’s scheduled sit-in on Sunday, November 24.
“Our Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit went well, but sit-ins frequently ruin these events. He informed the attendees, “It’s time to choose between protests and progress.”
“You have a choice. In front of PTI leader and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, the prime minister exhorted the opposition party, without mentioning it, to “wait for nothing.”
The government promised to stop the PTI rally. Police and PTI supporters are likely to battle at all points of entry into the city, and major highways and motorways leading to the capital are expected to be blocked.
PM Shehbaz gave all stakeholders instructions to vigorously pursue the measures listed at the end of Tuesday’s meeting, making sure they are implemented on schedule.
He emphasized how crucial it is to make consistent, well-coordinated measures to defend Pakistan’s sovereignty.
Demands from the PTI are “unrealistic.”
PTI’s demands on Tuesday were criticized by PML-N Senator Irfan Siddiqui as “unrealistic and impractical,” but he stressed that the government continue to be receptive to discussion on acceptable matters.
“Irrational demands like repealing the 26th amendment, returning the self-claimed mandate, dropping cases, and releasing all prisoners cannot be discussed,” he added, adding that PTI had put itself in a dead end when it announced the protests on November 24.
He claimed that under Imran Khan’s leadership, opposition members were imprisoned and ludicrous and bogus cases, such as treason and heroin, were made up.
