Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has made it clear that wars cannot be won through propaganda and rhetoric. Rather than relying on others, Pakistan won its own battle in response to Indian aggression, and if India attempts any such venture in the future, it will receive an even sterner and more decisive response than before. On the other hand, Pakistan’s representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar, has stated that, in addition to the banned TTP, several other terrorist groups are also using Afghan territory against Pakistan and pose a threat not only to Pakistan but to the entire region and the world.
Yesterday, while addressing officers at NDU, Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir said that India has failed to achieve its predetermined objectives against Pakistan. Not only has Pakistan defeated India in this regard, but it must also be made clear that any future such attack would provoke an even harsher response. Wars cannot be fought and won solely through statements, propaganda, and media campaigns. He further stated that other neighboring countries are also troubled and dissatisfied with India. However, Pakistan wants to make clear that India’s dominance will not be accepted under any circumstances.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar, stated that terrorist groups operating in Pakistan have the support of certain hostile countries. These groups have not only used Afghan territory against Pakistan for years, but besides the banned TTP and Baloch terrorists, Al-Qaeda and ISIS Khorasan also have safe havens in Afghanistan. He added that these terrorist groups pose a threat not only to Pakistan and the region but to the entire world. Therefore, Pakistan has been persistently demanding that the Afghan interim government eliminate these terrorist sanctuaries, but in practice, this demand is not being implemented. According to him, the banned TTP, with more than 6,000 militants, is the largest terrorist group present on Afghan soil, constituting a threat even to the Afghan interim government and the Taliban.
According to experts, Pakistan has been effectively highlighting not only the internal and external security challenges it faces at global forums, but also exposing countries like India that not only patronize these proxies but do not refrain from direct aggression. In this context, the defeat India suffered on 10 May is evident to all, and it is also well-known globally that Pakistan is not negligent in defending itself, a fact underscored in the Field Marshal’s address.
Regional affairs analyst Saadia Sattar, when contacted on this matter, stated that following the severe defeat on 10 May, India and some of its allies may try to further activate their proxies like the TTP and BLA to destabilize Pakistan. According to her, some anti-state political actors inside Pakistan are also active participants in this proxy war. Therefore, it is imperative that state measures be taken against all of them, regardless of the consequences.
According to talented journalist Irfan Khan from Peshawar, it is regrettable that the KP government, led by PTI, is following a policy of refraining from action against terrorists, resulting in an increase in terrorist activities in tribal and southern districts. He stated that due to the provincial government’s incompetence, tribal areas have been left administratively, institutionally, and economically unsupported, allowing terrorist groups to exploit the situation.