The country’s top general said talks with militants helped the terror outfits regroup in Pakistan, and they construed the state's willingness to negotiate as a sign of weakness. Gen Asim Munir said that negotiations with militant groups in the past enabled them to reorganize, recruit more terrorists, and re-establish their networks and support systems across the country. His remarks come as Pakistan faces a rise in terrorist activities, including major attacks on a police mosque in Peshawar and on the Karachi Police headquarters.
The army chief's comments were reflective of last week's National Security Committee's (NSC) meeting in which the top civil-military leadership decided that the recent spate of terrorism was a result of the previous regime's "soft corner" for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which was termed a "reckless policy".
The COAS clarified that a comprehensive operation against terror outfits was "already underway" to end the menace of terrorism from Pakistan. Gen Munir told parliamentarians the "ongoing campaign" was part of an already approved and ongoing '3D' strategy of deterrence, dialogue and development. The COAS also said that this campaign will include representation not only from security agencies but also from all government departments. "This is not a new operation but a 'whole of nation' approach," Pakistan army's top general said.
Sharing his views on the country’s internal matters, the COAS said the Pakistani Constitution and Parliament reflect the will of the masses. The Constitution specifies that power should be exercised by the elected representatives of the people. The COAS called people center of gravity, and mentioned that the masses express their views through these institutions, which provide a structure for their participation in governance.
"Sovereignty belongs to Almighty Allah, and the Constitution has been authorized by the command of Almighty", Gen Asim Munir said.
"Alhamdulillah, there is no no-go area in Pakistan at this time. A large number of martyrs laid down their lives for this success. They shed their blood for the country," Gen Asim Munir said. He added that terrorists have "no other option but to accept the state's writ".