Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif says that after the military operations conducted in the past, Pakistan did not expect that terrorism would increase once again in the country and the recently announced Operation ‘Azam-e-Istehkam’ is the need of the government and not the army.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif had recently announced the launch of a new operation against extremists, on which many political parties along with the opposition parties, especially tribal leaders and the public have expressed a lot of apprehensions.
In an interview to the BBC, Khawaja Asif said that talks with political parties and tribal leaders will continue on the military operation to establish peace in the country and end the new wave of terrorism.
Is this new operation a plan only from the army and his government is taking its responsibility on its shoulders out of compulsion? On this question, Khawaja Asif said, “The government also has a responsibility and it should also take this responsibility. This operation is not the need of the army, it is our need.”
