Islamabad, March 19, 2025: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has indicated that the country may conduct operations inside Afghanistan to target terrorists posing a threat to national security.
Speaking to a private news channel, Khawaja Asif stated, “If we have to go after Pakistan’s enemies in any country, we will do so.”
He emphasized that Pakistan has the right to take strong action against forces providing safe havens to hostile elements.
The minister accused the Afghan government of supporting the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
He claimed that during Imran Khan’s tenure, the TTP was allowed back into the region to form a private militia, which harmed Pakistan’s internal security.
Pakistan’s National Action Plan (NAP) is being reinstated to effectively eliminate terrorism, he added.
A Parliamentary Committee on National Security convened on Tuesday and issued a unanimous declaration, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to eradicating terrorism. The session was chaired by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq and attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, Federal ministers, parliamentarians, and senior military officials. However, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and some other opposition parties boycotted the meeting.
The military leadership provided a detailed briefing on the security situation, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). Key points included updates on counterterrorism operations, recent security threats and comprehensive strategy to ensure internal stability.
PM Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed the government’s resolve to eliminate terrorism, highlighting the sacrifices of security forces.
The Army Chief reportedly delivered an hour-long briefing, outlining military operations and intelligence-based actions against terrorist groups. The Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) supplemented this with strategic countermeasures.
The committee strongly condemned the recent wave of terrorist activities and called for immediate implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) and execution of the Azm-e-Istehkam strategy to dismantle terrorist networks.
With escalating security concerns, Pakistan appears to be preparing for a firm response against terrorism—both domestically and across its borders.
