Pakistan security experts call for ‘political, national unity’ for success of new anti-terror operation

Pakistani army personnel patrol outside a polling station during Pakistan's national elections in Peshawar on February 8, 2024. (AFP/File)
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Updated 26 June 2024
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Pakistan security experts call for ‘political, national unity’ for success of new anti-terror operation

  • Government has said it will build consensus before launching new operation, does not plan large-scale armed campaign
  • Several opposition parties have rejected the operation, accusing government of not taking the parliament on board 

ISLAMABAD: Security experts in Pakistan have urged the government this week to build political consensus for a new anti-terrorism operation, urging “national unity and diplomatic efforts” to gain approval for proposed measures and ensure their success. 

The South Asian state’s top national security forum on Saturday announced “Operation Azm-e-Istehkam,” or Resolve for Stability, operation after a meeting of senior military leaders and top government officials from all provinces. Several opposition parties have rejected the operation, accusing the government of not taking the opposition or parliament on board before announcing the measures. 

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Defense Minister Khawaja Asif separately clarified that the government was not planning to launch a “large-scale armed operation” against militancy but instead intensify ongoing intelligence-based operations. They also said they would seek to build consensus before starting a new campaign, which comes as the country faces daily attacks on security personnel and pressure from China to protect its nationals working in Pakistan.

“The government needs to engage with political parties expressing reservations and fears that the operation might be used against them,” former defense secretary, retired Lt Gen Naeem Khalid Lodhi, told Arab News, advising the government to go for a “small scale” operation rather than a military campaign. 

“To address extremism, complete political support, national unity, and diplomatic efforts are essential.”

Lodhi said an in-camera briefing needed to be arranged for political leaders as the whole nation needed to be united to ensure any new operation’s success.

Speaking to the media on Monday, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur urged the government to take concerned stakeholders and parliament into confidence before launching a new operation.

“Before any operation, the concerned public should be taken into confidence because terrorism cannot be eliminated without public support and it was also necessary to take parliament into confidence,” he added. 

“DIVERSE OPERATION”

According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, which maintains data on terror attacks in the region, Pakistan has seen over 300 terrorism-related deaths this year, with dozens of security personnel, including officials, killed in militant attacks and counterterrorism operations in the first half of 2024. 

Previously, between 2007 and 2017, Pakistan conducted major military operations such as Rah-e-Haq, Zarb-e-Azb, and Rad-ul-Fasad.

Syed Muhammad Ali, an Islamabad-based security analyst, said Azm-e-Istehkam would be a “more comprehensive” counter-terrorism plan than previous ones. 

“It will involve intelligence and counter-terrorism operations as well as information, ideological, and legal aspects to reduce the psychological and social space for terrorism, and bring terrorists to justice, not just eliminate them physically,” he told Arab News.

In a statement released on Monday night, Sharif described the new operation as a “multi-domain, multi-agency, whole of the system national vision for enduring stability in Pakistan.”

“It is meant to reinvigorate and re-energize the ongoing implementation of the Revised National Action Plan, which was initiated after the national consensus across the political spectrum,” Sharif said, referring to a strategy formulated in 2014 to stamp out militant groups.

He said the new anti-terrorism operation would include political, diplomatic, legal, and information prongs and continue operations by law enforcement agencies.

Retired Brig Masud Ahmed Khan, a defense analyst, said the new operation was in the country’s interest as militants were not only targeting Pakistani citizens but also harming its diplomatic and financial interests by targeting Chinese nationals. In the latest attack, a suicide bomb attack killed five Chinese engineers in March.

“Attacks on Chinese nationals and projects is also an important factor as we need to protect them along with other threats to our security forces and installations,” he told Arab News, adding that the new operation would differ from previous ones as it would focus on both terrorism and extremism. 

“It is a diverse operation, covering terrorism, extremism, and protecting minorities from religious violence which is much needed in the current circumstances,” he said. “Political parties should keep the peace and security of the country above their political differences.”

Journalist Sumera Khan, who has covered previous military operations, said the operation’s timing was right as the state had tried other measures, such as expelling illegal Afghans and cracking down on criminals to control terrorism.

Pakistan has blamed the recent surge in militant attacks on neighboring Afghanistan, which it says allows Pakistani Taliban militants to hold camps and train insurgents to launch attacks inside Pakistan. Kabul denies this. Since last November, the Pakistan government has also launched a deportation drive under which over 600,000 Afghan nationals have been expelled from Pakistan.

“State was gradually hardening its measures and finally launched this operation which will now not focus only on the Afghan side but will be implemented across Pakistan,” Khan told Arab News, adding that all organs of the state would be actively involved in the new campaign.

“This time there is the possibility that the military will remain focused on the kinetic side while diplomatic and media sides will be handled by the government,” she added.

“RENEWED CYCLE OF RESENTMENT”

But some analysts are skeptical the operation will achieve its objectives.

Former diplomat Rustam Shah Mohmand said the operation would likely meet the same fate as many previous military operations.

“Since the first operation, peace has not been restored in the tribal areas, and this may initiate a renewed cycle of resentment and frustration, potentially fueling recruitment opportunities for terrorists and further spread of terrorism,” he told Arab News.

Mohmand said the government should instead focus on strengthening institutions, improving coordination between different departments, and increasing intelligence sharing to address specific threats instead of pursuing blanket operations.

“Additionally, there is a serious lack of coordination between provinces and the central government,” he concluded, “that needs to be strengthened.”


Pakistan’s Shandur Polo Festival kicks off at world’s highest ground, draws global tourists

Updated 6 sec ago
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Pakistan’s Shandur Polo Festival kicks off at world’s highest ground, draws global tourists

  • The festival is held annually and brings together teams from Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan for freestyle polo matches
  • Played at 12,000 feet, these matches attract spectators, tourists from across the world to witness the unique event

PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s annual Shandur Polo Festival began Friday at an altitude of 12,000 feet in the country’s mountainous north, with officials calling it a celebration of culture, sportsmanship and peace that draws tourists from around the world.

Held each year at the Shandur Pass in Upper Chitral, the three-day festival features traditional freestyle polo matches between teams from Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan, alongside folk music, camping, paragliding and cultural exhibitions.

The event is considered a major tourist attraction and is played on what is often described as the highest polo ground in the world.

“Shandur Polo is one of our most important cultural sports, played at 12,000 feet,” said Syed Fakhar Jahan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, at the opening ceremony, according to an official statement.

“Spectators and tourists from around the world come to witness this unique event,” he added. “We welcome them all.”

The festival sees teams from Gilgit and Chitral compete in fast-paced, no-holds-barred matches played without umpires, a throwback to the region’s centuries-old polo traditions.

Officials say the event aims to foster unity and harmony between the two regions, which share historical ties and a friendly sporting rivalry.

“Such activities send a message of peace to the world,” the provincial minister said. “Pakistanis are a people who cherish their cultural heritage, and this festival reflects that spirit.”


Pakistan eases visa rules for Afghan transporters, drivers to improve trade amid deportation drive

Updated 47 min 46 sec ago
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Pakistan eases visa rules for Afghan transporters, drivers to improve trade amid deportation drive

  • Pakistan has deported around 979,486 Afghan nationals since the launch of an expulsion drive in 2023
  • Pakistan and Afghanistan have recently taken steps to restore diplomatic ties at the ambassadorial level

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will issue multiple-entry visas valid for one year to Afghan drivers and transporters to facilitate cross-border trade, its embassy in Kabul announced on Friday, amid an ongoing campaign to deport undocumented Afghan nationals.

Afghan drivers play a vital role in bilateral and transit trade between the two countries.

Under the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA), Afghan transporters are allowed to move goods between Pakistani ports and their countries major cities like Kandahar, Jalalabad and Kabul.

The Pakistan government’s decision to issue visas comes at a time when the government has repatriated 979,486 Afghan nationals since launching a deportation drive in 2023 over security concerns.

“The Government of Pakistan has decided to issue multiple-entry visas of one-year validity to Afghan drivers and transporters,” the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul said in a post on X. “The visa fee for this category would be $100.”

 

The new visa policy is likely to benefit ongoing trade flows, especially as Pakistan remains a primary corridor for Afghanistan’s access to international markets.

Afghan trucks are permitted to transport goods under the APTTA framework, including third-country imports destined for Afghanistan.

Applicants for the new visa will be required to upload a photograph, a scanned copy of their passport, Afghanistan’s national identity document, a valid temporary admission document, an employment letter from a registered transport company or an authority letter from a transport operator and a valid driving license.

Pakistan’s deportation policy in 2023 followed a spike in militant attacks, particularly in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan.

Islamabad has previously linked such attacks and other crimes to Afghan nationals, who make up the largest migrant population in the country, though Kabul has denied any nexus between the two.

Despite tensions, both countries have recently taken steps to restore diplomatic ties at the ambassadorial level.


Pakistan, China, Bangladesh agree to enhance cooperation in trade, investment and maritime affairs

Updated 20 June 2025
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Pakistan, China, Bangladesh agree to enhance cooperation in trade, investment and maritime affairs

  • Pakistan and Bangladesh are both part of China’s multi-billion, ambitious Belt and Road Initiative project
  • All three sides hold trilateral vice foreign minister/foreign secretary meeting in Kunming, Yunnan on Thursday

ISLAMABAD: Senior officials of Pakistan, Bangladesh and China on Friday vowed to enhance trilateral cooperation in various sectors such as trade, investment, health, education, maritime affairs and others, the Chinese foreign ministry said. 

Pakistan and Bangladesh are both part of China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which aims to connect Asia, Africa and Europe. China envisions the BRI to be a global network of roads, railways, ports, energy pipelines and trade corridors that strengthens Beijing’s trade ties with other regions for the benefit of its economy. 

Pakistan and China are historic allies while strained ties between Islamabad and Dhaka have started to improve since the ouster of former Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina last year. The China-Pakistan-Bangladesh Trilateral Vice Foreign Minister/Foreign Secretary meeting was held in Kunming, Yunnan on Thursday, to discuss cooperation in various sectors between the three countries. 

The meeting was attended by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong, Bangladeshi Acting Foreign Secretary Ruhul Alam Siddique and Pakistani Additional Secretary (Asia Pacific) Imran Ahmed Siddiqui. Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch participated in the first phase of the meeting via video link.

“The three sides agreed to explore and implement cooperation projects in such areas as industry, trade, maritime affairs, water resources, climate change, agriculture, human resources, think tanks, health, education, culture, and youth,” the Chinese foreign ministry said. 

The statement said Pakistan, Bangladesh and China will establish a working group to follow up and implement the understandings reached during the meeting on Thursday. The three sides emphasized that China-Bangladesh-Pakistan cooperation adheres to true multilateralism and open regionalism, not directed at any third party, it added. 

Pakistan’s foreign office said Baloch conveyed Islamabad’s readiness to work with China and Bangladesh to enhance ties in trade and investment, agriculture, digital economy, environment protection, marine sciences, green infrastructure, culture, education and people-to-people exchanges. 

“The three sides agreed that trilateral cooperation would be guided by the principles of openness, inclusivity, good neighborliness, mutual respect and trust, while working toward win-win cooperation,” Pakistan’s foreign office said. 

Pakistan has recently eyed closer cooperation in trade and investment with regional allies as it grapples with a macroeconomic crisis that has drained its financial resources, significantly weakened its currency and triggered a balance of payments crisis for the South Asian country.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has repeatedly spoken about his government’s intention to enter “mutually beneficial” partnerships with allies as opposed to seeking loans from them.

In recent months Pakistan has signed memoranda of understanding with allies such as Saudi Arabia, China, United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, Turkiye and others worth billions of dollars.


Pakistani minister, FIFA president discuss football’s growing popularity in country

Updated 20 June 2025
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Pakistani minister, FIFA president discuss football’s growing popularity in country

  • Football has been growing popular over the years in Pakistan, particularly among young fans
  • Mohsin Naqvi invites Gianni Infantino to Pakistan, discusses potential of sports in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Friday to discuss football’s growing popularity in Pakistan and the potential that the sport has in the country, the minister said in a statement. 

Football in Pakistan has long existed in the shadow of cricket. However, the sport has been growing popular over the years, particularly among the youth, who form a passionate fan base in urban centers.

Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), met Infantino in Washington on Friday. 

“Had an excellent meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino,” Naqvi said in a post on X following his meeting with him during a trip to the US.

“We discussed the immense potential of sports in Pakistan — especially the growing popularity of football following cricket,” he added. 

Pakistan and FIFA share a complex yet evolving relationship, shaped by ongoing efforts to develop football infrastructure and promote the sport in the country.

Pakistan has faced repeated administrative challenges and international suspensions, largely due to government interference in football affairs.

In 2019, FIFA appointed a normalization committee to restore order within the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and facilitate the holding of democratic elections.

FIFA suspended the PFF earlier in February after its elected congress rejected the constitutional amendments proposed by the global football body but the ban was reversed in March after PFF accepted the proposed constitutional amendments.

However, Pakistan remains committed to elevating its football profile despite recurring setbacks such as suspensions.

The Pakistan national football team last played a match in March, losing 2–0 to Syria in an AFC Asian Cup qualifier.

The next FIFA World Cup is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026, and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.


Pakistani FM in Istanbul to demand Iran-Israel ceasefire at this week’s OIC meeting

Updated 20 June 2025
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Pakistani FM in Istanbul to demand Iran-Israel ceasefire at this week’s OIC meeting

  • OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) 51st session will be held from June 21-22
  • Meeting to take place as Iran-Israel conflict intensifies with no sign of either side letting up

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Istanbul on Friday to attend the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers, his office said, as Israel and Iran continue to engage in military conflict while the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorates. 

The 51st session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers is expected to focus on coordinated efforts to de-escalate tensions between Iran and Israel, the two regional rivals, along with the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The meeting comes at a time when Middle East tensions are high, with Iran and Israel trading missiles and strikes for seven days now. Pakistan has condemned Israel for launching a surprise attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities and military leadership last Friday, calling for peace and diplomacy to resolve the issue.

“Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, arrived in Istanbul to participate in the 51st Session of the Council of the Foreign Minister (CFM) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) being held on 21-22 June 2025 and to attend the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum award ceremony where President Erdogan will be honored,” the Foreign Office said in a press release. 
 

The Pakistani foreign office said Dar was received by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkiye, Dr. Yousaf Junaid, Consul General Nauman Aslam and the representatives of the Turkish ministry of foreign affairs. 

“During the plenary session, the DPM/FM will share Pakistan’s perspective on the developments in South Asia following the ceasefire arrangement between Pakistan and India and the situation in the Middle East after Israel’s recent aggression against Iran and other regional states,” the foreign office spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan, said in a statement on Thursday. 

He added that Dar would advocate for peace in the Middle East and highlight the need for humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza during the meeting on June 21 and 22.
Beyond the Middle East, Dar is also expected to address broader issues of concern to the Muslim world, urging the international community to “combat the escalating tide of Islamophobia” by addressing rising extremism and militancy, as well as the growing threat of climate change.

He will also reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to the principles and objectives of the OIC in addressing challenges faced by Muslim nations globally.

Dar, who also holds the portfolio of foreign minister, is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other OIC member states on the sidelines of the conference.

The high-level meeting is taking place amid media reports that the United States is weighing options, including potentially joining Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.