Peshawar, October 30, 2025: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to eliminate terrorism and its facilitators, vowing that the country — particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — will be “cleansed of terrorists and their abettors,” according to a statement issued by the military’s media wing on Thursday.
During his visit to Peshawar, the army chief held an interactive session with a Jirga of tribal elders, where he lauded the unwavering support of the tribal communities for the security forces during the recent standoff between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
COAS Munir paid rich tribute to the resilience and sacrifices of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the country’s long war against terrorism, acknowledging their “steadfast and unconditional” support in preserving peace and stability.
Tribal elders, in turn, reiterated their full backing of the armed forces in the ongoing fight against terrorism, including militant groups operating from across the border. They also denounced the “twisted ideology” of Fitna al-Khawarij (FAK), declaring it had “no acceptance” among the tribes of the province.
The army chief emphasised that Pakistan seeks peaceful relations with all neighbouring countries, including Afghanistan, but warned that Islamabad would not tolerate cross-border terrorism.
“Despite the continued infiltration attempts and terrorist attacks from Afghan soil, Pakistan has shown great restraint and extended multiple diplomatic and economic overtures aimed at improving bilateral relations,” the ISPR quoted the COAS as saying.
He added, however, that instead of acting against Indian-sponsored terror proxies — Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan — the Afghan Taliban regime has been providing assistance to these groups.
Field Marshal Munir assured the Jirga that the security forces remain resolute in their mission to root out all terrorist elements and restore lasting peace in the tribal districts and across Pakistan.
During the visit, the COAS was also given a comprehensive briefing at Headquarters 11 Corps on the prevailing security environment, operational preparedness, and ongoing counterterrorism operations along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
The visit follows a series of major counterterrorism operations in recent days, including the killing of TTP’s former deputy chief in Bajaur and 18 terrorists in two intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Balochistan, as announced earlier by the ISPR.
