The Chief of Army Staff, General Syed Asim Munir visited the Orakzai district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa yesterday. There, he was greeted by the Corps Commander Peshawar and other authorities, as he gave them a detailed briefing on the operations that the local troops have been conducting against terrorists, particularly in the Tirah Valley. In addition to meeting and interacting with high-ranking military personnel, the Army Chief also placed wreaths at the memorial and spoke with soldiers and commanders engaged in counterterrorism operations.
The information provided by the ISPR claims that the Army Chief stated during the event that the nation and its forces will do everything in their power to preserve the peace that has been earned through sacrifice and that the martyrs’ sacrifices have strengthened our will to combat terrorism. He expressed his gratitude to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the province’s police force on this special occasion. He also promised that the Pakistan Army would support the province’s police force to the fullest extent possible and that, with the people’s assistance, all the forces would eradicate terrorism and bring about peace.
It is admirable that, in contrast to the civil authorities, senior Pakistan Army officials—including the Army Chief—do more than just occasionally travel to the insurgency-affected regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Instead, they also honor the sacrifices made by the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. It is admirable that the army chief has been highlighting the contributions and constructive role played by Pashtuns in nearly every significant event. The people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly those living in the tribal areas, have suffered greatly as a result of the continuous conflict.
Earlier, the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, aimed at the provincial government, claiming that the security forces are more than capable of maintaining order in the province and that the Chief Minister, who is in direct negotiations with Afghanistan, is unable to bring about peace in his native area. In an interview, the governor stated that over the previous few years, the provincial administration has received almost Rs 600 billion to address security-related issues. Where has all of this government spending gone?
Meanwhile, several political, media, and public groups are criticizing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s direct negotiations with the Afghan administration. The founding chairman of his party “taunted” him out of prison by warning that terrorism would not stop unless a compromise was reached. By claiming that the police officers in the province have gone on the rampage, the Minister has “scored” over his squad.
It would be better if someone tells the CM that they have a government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and if there is any such rebellion, the responsibility lies with their provincial government.