Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday said recent talks with the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) bore \u201cno concrete outcomes\u201d, even as thousands of Swat residents took to the streets in protest of the rise of militancy in the region.<\/p>\n
For weeks now, KP residents, particularly of Swat, have been protesting against terrorism, most recently warning that they would march to Islamabad if terrorists aren\u2019t reined in.<\/p>\n
Even today, there were reports of protests in the Charbagh tehsil of Swat and in the Shangla\u2019s Alpuri area. It was in Charbagh that a school van came under the fire of militants earlier this week, which left the driver dead and two students wounded.<\/p>\n
After the incident, hundreds of students and teachers took to the streets in several areas to protest against the rising tide of insurgency in the area. The following day, thousands took to the streets.<\/p>\n
However, addressing the Arab News Pakistan annual conference 2022 as a keynote speaker, the minister insisted the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was \u201cunder control\u201d and would be \u201ctackled amicably\u201d in case of any untoward situation.<\/p>\n
In a report by Arab News, Asif appeared to rule out intervention in the region, and voiced his preference for \u201cpeaceful means\u201d. \u201cWe are not thinking of any intervention, it\u2019s not on the cards,\u201d Asif was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbsolutely we will use other means, peaceful means, and if we have to resort to some other forces to control [it] and if that is inevitable, we will resort to that Inshallah.\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead, Asif made it clear that the KP government should take cognisance of the situation, whereas the federal government would support it in any case of counter-terrorism.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is very heartening to see the public coming to the streets on their own for their rights. I feel confident that the situation will be brought under control. However, the recent revival of a few terrorists is an expected spillover from Afghanistan,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The minister added that the success of the relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan was of great significance, as Pakistan could not remain oblivious to what was happening in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeace in Pakistan is dependent on peace in Afghanistan. We will use peaceful means to resolve the matter and we will use force if it\u2019s inevitable to purge the country from the menace of terrorism.\u201d<\/p>\n
He mentioned that the defence forces of Pakistan were fully equipped and the most battle hardened anywhere in the world. \u201cThe frontline forces for the last three decades are fighting against extremism. Our experiences and sacrifices are unmatchable.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday said recent talks with the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) bore \u201cno concrete outcomes\u201d, even as thousands of Swat residents took to the streets in protest of the rise of militancy in the region. For weeks now, KP residents, particularly of Swat, have been protesting against terrorism, most recently warning […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":238154,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-289219","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n