Field Marshal Munir Vows to Eliminate Terrorism, Pledges Strong Response to Any Threat
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir on Wednesday reiterated the military’s unwavering commitment to eliminating terrorism from Pakistan, emphasizing the country’s full readiness to counter any internal or external threat, according to a statement issued by the military’s media wing.
The statement comes amid a sharp rise in terrorist activities across Pakistan, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, following the collapse of the ceasefire between the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the government in November 2022.
Balochistan, in particular, has witnessed a deteriorating security landscape in recent months.
Militant groups, especially the banned Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), have intensified their operations, adopting more aggressive tactics aimed at inflicting greater casualties and directly targeting security personnel.
According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army chief was speaking to a group of stakeholders at the 16th National Workshop in Balochistan.
“[The] COAS resolutely reaffirmed Pakistan Army’s unwavering commitment to uproot the menace of terrorism and [the] inevitability of socio-economic uplift of Balochistan for national cohesion and integration,” the statement said.
Field Marshall Munir also shed light on Pakistan’s recent military escalation with India, condemning New Delhi’s “blatant sponsorship of terror proxies, characterising them as a failed attempt to target the deep-rooted patriotism of the people of Balochistan.”
The two countries entered a brief but intense military escalation after India, without evidence, blamed Pakistan for the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
On May 6–7, New Delhi launched air strikes that killed civilians, followed by a week-long missile exchange. A US-brokered ceasefire ended the war.
He elucidated that India, having suffered defeat in Marka-i-Haq — the period of conflict from April 22 to May 10 — had “now escalated its proxy war to advance her nefarious designs.”
He said New Delhi was using Fitna-al-Khawarij and Fitna-al-Hindustan — terms the state uses to refer to the TTP and terrorist groups in Balochistan, respectively — as “pawns of Indian hybrid war against Pakistan.”
“The COAS said that these proxies will face a similar fate and humiliation as faced in Marka-i-Haq,” the statement said.
During his talk, the army chief also emphasised that terrorists knew no bounds of religion, sect, or ethnicity, necessitating a unified national response, stressing the imperative of collective resolve in confronting this menace.
He highlighted the “pivotal role of development initiatives in Balochistan, advocating for enhanced inter-agency cooperation and a cohesive national approach to propel provincial progress and national advancement.”
While reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace, the COAS underscored the nation’s preparedness to respond decisively to any external or internal threats, protecting national prestige and ensuring the well-being of its citizens, the statement concluded.
