Security officials on Wednesday met media persons in Lahore and stressed that the entire nation must unite to eliminate “Fitna-al-Khawarij” and “Fitna-al-Hindustan” from Pakistan.
During the briefing, security sources said the war against terrorism is not solely the responsibility of the security forces, army, police or Frontier Corps, but a war of the entire nation. They emphasized that success in the fight against terrorism is conditional upon the full implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP).
Security sources said that India is sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan and claimed that the recent attacker at the Tarlai Imambargah had received training in Afghanistan. They warned that strict action against both external and internal conspirators is inevitable.
“It does not matter what your political or religious views are; we must unite against terrorism,” the sources said, adding that divisions based on nationality, language or provincialism must be avoided to overcome the challenges facing the country.
Referring to Balochistan, the sources said that “Fitna-al-Hindustan” is an enemy of the province’s development. They added that the people of Balochistan have recognized elements who carry out terrorism under the guise of deprivation.
The briefing also highlighted efforts to curb smuggling, stating that three years ago, 15 to 20 million liters of Iranian petrol and diesel were being smuggled, but the practice has now been stopped. According to the sources, money generated from smuggling was being used in terrorist activities.
Security officials maintained that good governance is the only sustainable way to eradicate terrorism from its roots. They noted that the National Action Plan remains key to controlling terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and welcomed recent meetings held in the province in this regard.
Drawing parallels with past national unity, the sources said that just as the nation united to defeat India in the fight for justice, terrorists would also be defeated through collective resolve.
They further stated that visits to educational institutions show that the people of Pakistan, particularly the youth, stand with the Pakistan Army “like a leaden wall.” “No narrative can weaken the relationship between the army and the people. Our narrative is only Pakistan,” the sources said.
Commenting on recent political developments, the sources described the opposition leader’s recent statement about the Pakistan Army as “extremely regrettable and based on lies.” They reiterated that while discussion is the prerogative of political parties, the army has nothing to do with politics.
They added that all legal and court-related matters must be decided by the judiciary in accordance with the Constitution and the law.