Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday categorically warned Kabul to make a clear choice between Pakistan and Khawarij and said Afghanistan could not host militants destabilized their neighbor while the expected normal ties with Islamabad reported Radio Pakistan.
The statement came when the military reported that 12 soldiers were martyred, and 35 terrorists attached to the Indian sponsored Fitna al-Khwarij network were killed in two intelligence-based operations performed in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) between 10 and 13 September.
The Prime Minister, accompanied by Field Marshal and chief chief, General Staff Syed Asim Munir, visited Bannu, where he chaired a high-level meeting and attended the funeral prayer for 12 soldiers martyrated in the South Waziristan operation, according to security officials.
“Pakistan will deliver an appropriate riposte for terrorism,” Shehbaz declared, emphasizing that “there will be no ambiguity or hesitation in it.”
He said that Masterminds and facilitators of terrorist attacks in Pakistan operate from Afghan Earth with Indian support. “Afghanistan has been categorically told to choose between Islamabad and Khawarij,” he added.
PM Shehbaz and Coas Asim Munir attend the funeral of martyred soldiers in Bannu. (Photo courtesy: PTV News via x)
The Prime Minister noted that Afghan citizens had been involved in the recent attacks after infiltrating across the border, emphasizing the urgent to repatriate undocumented Afghan residents.
When he rejected what he called the politicization of terrorism, Shehbaz warned that “those who advocate for Khawarij or facilitate India’s terrorist project, act as their agents and will be treated accordingly.”
He added that the people of KP united with the state and armed forces “like a Bunyan-un-Marsoos” against Indian-supported proxies. “The government will take all the necessary administrative and legal steps for a stronger reaction to terrorism,” he said.
During the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz and Coas Asim Munir also met wounded soldiers at CMH Bannu, while Corps Commander Peshawar briefed them on the regional security situation.
PM Shehbaz and Coas Asim Munir ask for wounded soldiers at CMH Bannu. (Photo courtesy: PTV News via x)
