Two days after the federal government sanctioned Operation “Azm-e-Istehkam,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) issued a statement late Monday to clarify that “no large-scale military operation is being launched” within the country.
Misinterpretations Addressed:
“The recently announced vision for enduring stability named Azm-e-Istehkam is being erroneously misunderstood and compared with earlier kinetic operations like Zarb-e-Azab and Rah-e-Najaat,” read the PMO statement.
The office emphasized that past kinetic operations aimed to physically dislodge terrorists from entrenched positions that had become no-go areas, challenging state authority.
These operations necessitated the mass displacement of local populations and systematic clearance of affected regions.
No-Go Areas:
The government affirmed that such no-go areas no longer exist in Pakistan.
The effectiveness of previous kinetic operations has significantly reduced the capacity of terrorist organizations to execute large-scale, organized attacks within the nation.
Opposition Concerns:
The PMO’s clarification follows concerns raised by opposition parties, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamiat-e-Ulema Islam Fazl (JUI-F), and Awami National Party (ANP).
These parties insisted that parliament must be consulted prior to launching any new military operation.
Multi-Domain Vision for Stability:
Reassuring the public, the PMO stated, “Therefore, no large-scale military operation is being contemplated where displacement of population will be required.”
Operation Azm-e-Istehkam is described as a multi-domain, multi-agency, whole-of-system national vision for achieving enduring stability in Pakistan.
It aims to revitalize the ongoing implementation of the revised National Action Plan, which was established through national consensus across the political spectrum.
Enhanced Intelligence-Based Operations:
The new operation focuses on strengthening existing intelligence-based kinetic operations to decisively eliminate the remaining terrorist elements, dismantle the crime-terror nexus, and root out violent extremism.
The goal is to ensure a secure environment that supports economic development and prosperity.
آپریشن #عزم_استحکام کی آڑ میں گولہ باری اور ڈرون حملوں کے ذریعے ایک مرتبہ پھر پختونوں کا خون بہایا جائے گا۔
اس سے پہلے بھی کئی آپریشن کرکے لاکھوں قبائلیوں کو دربدر کیا گیا، گھر تباہ کئے گئے۔
اب کسی آپریشن کی ضرورت نہیں۔#Azm_e_Istehkam
اس آپریشن کی آڑ میں @PTIofficial اور… pic.twitter.com/bTNj071otr— Altaf Hussain (@AltafHussain_90) June 24, 2024
The PMO highlighted that this operation would incorporate political, diplomatic, legal, and informational efforts, in addition to the ongoing operations by all law enforcement agencies.
Surge in Terrorist Attacks:
The clarification comes at a time when Pakistan has seen a significant increase in terrorist attacks and counter-terror operations.
According to a January report, citing the Centre for Research and Security Studies’ (CRSS) Annual Security Report, the country witnessed nearly 1,000 fatalities in the past year, marking a six-year high.
The surge in attacks has been characterized by militants using advanced weaponry and equipment.
Diplomatic Efforts with Afghanistan:
Amid this backdrop, Islamabad has repeatedly urged the interim Afghan government to prevent its territory from being used by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant groups to launch attacks against Pakistan.
The PMO expressed hope that this clarification would address any misunderstandings and settle unnecessary debates regarding the nature of Operation Azm-e-Istehkam.
