Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif said that Operation Azm-e-Istehkam was sine qua non for us, not for military.
While speaking in an interview with British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Khawaja Asif said that there was no expectation of resurgence of terrorism after military operations conducted in past, Operation Azm-e-Istehkam was not military’s but our need, this was the responsibility of government which should be taken.
Khawaja Asid said that the new spirit and rigorous operation were required to deal with the recent wave of terrorism, there was need of a new arrangement after increasing the terror incidents in yesteryear, operation would not cause displacement of people rather it would be an intelligence based operation.
Defence minister said that in last decade, many incidents such as evacuation of Nato and US forces from Afghanistan and return of TTP fighters to the country in the period of Imran Khan’s government caused rise in terrorism.
He said, we hoped that Afghan government would cooperate us but they did not express readiness to fight against TTP militants due to their alliance with them.
Khawaja Asif said that after talking with taliban, experience of bringing back of four to five thousand people had been failed and those who were conducting attacks from Afghanistan, got safe havens in Pakistan, we would continue target against TTP sanctuaries.