PNN: Security officials on Wednesday categorically rejected military role in politics and termed recent statement by the opposition leader in National Assembly against the armed forces as “regrettable and based on falsehoods.”
“The opposition leader’s recent statement against the Pakistan Army is highly regrettable. No narrative can weaken the bond between the army and the people. Our only narrative is Pakistan,” said a statement issued by security sources.
During a briefing in Lahore with media representatives, security officials stressed that Pakistan’s fight against terrorism requires national unity and collective resolve beyond the security forces alone. However, they stated that dialogue among political parties is their democratic right, but the military has no role in politics.
Security sources added that the campaign against terrorism is not limited to the armed forces, police, or Frontier Corps, but is a struggle that involves the entire nation. They emphasised that lasting success depends on full implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP), which they described as the cornerstone of counterterrorism efforts across the country.
The sources maintained that India is behind what they termed “sponsored terrorism” inside Pakistan, claiming that external support continues to fuel militant activities. They further stated that the attacker involved in the recent Tralai Imambargah incident had received training in Afghanistan.
Security officials called for decisive action against both internal and external elements involved in terrorism, urging Pakistanis to rise above political, ethnic, linguistic, or sectarian divisions. “Regardless of political or religious affiliation, the nation must stand united against terrorism,” the sources said, adding that unity is essential to defeat all forms of extremism.
Referring to Balochistan, the officials claimed that militant groups operating under the guise of deprivation narratives are, in fact, enemies of the Baloch people and the province’s development. They said the public in Balochistan has increasingly recognised this reality.
The briefing also highlighted progress against smuggling networks, with sources noting that the illegal smuggling of 15 to 20 million litres of Iranian petrol and diesel annually—previously used to finance militant activities—has now been curtailed.
Good governance was described as a critical factor in eliminating terrorism at its roots. The security officials added that recent meetings in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) aimed at addressing security challenges were encouraging, reiterating that the NAP remains key to controlling terrorism in the province as well.