Pakistan says it will not allow countries to shelter militants

world
Pakistan Says It Will Not Allow Countries To Shelter Militants
The statement came on Monday amid a spike in attacks by the militant Pakistani Taliban, many of whom are hiding in Afghanistan. Photo: PA Images
Share this article

Associated Press Reporters

Pakistan’s political and military leadership have vowed that no nation will be allowed to shelter militants who stage attacks against the country — an apparent reference to neighbouring Afghanistan.

The statement came on Monday amid a spike in attacks by the militant Pakistani Taliban, many of whom are hiding in Afghanistan.

Advertisement

The attacks are on the rise across Pakistan, especially in the northwest near the Afghan border.

Pakistan-Militant Attacks
Pakistani prime minister Shahbaz Sharif chaired the meeting of Pakistan’s National Security Committee (Sergei Bobylev, Sputnik via AP/PA)

The announcement came at the end of a meeting of Pakistan’s National Security Committee, which was attended by Pakistani prime minister Shahbaz Sharif, the newly appointed army chief General Asim Munir and other officials.

Advertisement

According to a government statement, the committee vowed that there will be “zero tolerance for terrorism in Pakistan” and that militants will be dealt with using the “full force of the state”.

The announcement came two weeks after Pakistan’s special forces killed more than two dozen detainees linked to the Pakistani Taliban in a raid after they overpowered guards at a counter-terrorism centre in the northwest and killed three hostages.

Before launching the rescue operation, the detainees had demanded safe passage to Afghanistan, a demand the government rejected.

The Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, are separate from, but allied with, the Afghan Taliban. The Afghan Taliban seized power last year as US and Nato troops were in the final weeks of their pullout from the country after 20 years of war.

Advertisement

The takeover of Afghanistan emboldened TTP fighters who have stepped up attacks on Pakistani security forces since November when they unilaterally ended a months-long ceasefire with Pakistan’s government.

The increasing militant violence has strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers, who had brokered the ceasefire in May.

Read More

Message submitting... Thank you for waiting.

Want us to email you top stories each lunch time?

Download our Apps
© BreakingNews.ie 2024, developed by Square1 and powered by PublisherPlus.com