Pakistan army chief vows to root out militancy on visit to troubled northwest

(Left to Right) Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, Ali Amin Gandapur; Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir; and KP Governor, Faisal Karim Kundi, attend a meeting on the provincial security situation in Peshawar, Pakistan, on January 13, 2025. (ISPR)

• Pakistan has struggled to contain militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, since its truce with Pakistani Taliban broke down in 2022
• Islamabad has frequently accused Afghanistan of supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks, Kabul denies the allegation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief, Gen Asim Munir, on Monday promised to eliminate militancy from the South Asian country, the military said, as the army commander visited the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province that has witnessed a surge in attacks in recent months.
Pakistan has struggled to contain surging militancy in KP, which borders Afghanistan, since a fragile truce between the Pakistani Taliban and the state broke down in November 2022. The TTP and other militant groups have frequently targeted security forces convoys and check-posts, besides targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials in recent months.
On Monday, Gen. Munir visited the provincial capital of Peshawar, where he was given a briefing on the prevailing security situation and the ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the region, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.
“The enemy may try to sow discord and fear, but we will not relent. Hostile elements will be dealt with an iron hand,” he was quoted as saying by the ISPR. “They will continue to suffer heavy losses, and their capacity to inflict harm will be decimated.”
The army chief said that any attempt to disturb the peace of the nation would be met with “decisive and overwhelming force,” praising the unwavering resolve and sacrifices of armed forces and law enforcement agencies
“Through their dedication, courage, and supreme sacrifices, we have successfully degraded the operational capabilities of terrorist organizations, both within our borders and beyond,” he said.
“Our forces have relentlessly pursued and eliminated key terrorist leaders, dismantled their infrastructure, and neutralized their cells, sending a clear message that terror has no place in our land. This war is ongoing and we would take it to its logical conclusion.”
The visit by the army chief came two days after Pakistani security forces killed nine militants in two separate engagements in KP’s North Waziristan district, which borders Afghanistan.
Islamabad has frequently blamed the surge in militancy on Afghanistan, accusing it of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials deny involvement and insist that Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.
Separately, Gen. Munir interacted with members of various political parties, including Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, in Peshawar.
“The political representatives showed vivid clarity on unflinching support of the armed forces and LEAs in nation’s fight against terror and agreed on the need for a unified front beyond political colors against the extremist philosophy of terrorist groups,” the ISPR added.