Pakistan PM’s ‘crush Taliban’ message amid border tensions with Afghanistan

In a resolute address to the Special Investment Facilitation Council’s (SIFC) apex committee in Islamabad, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gave a stern warning to the Taliban, declaring that the militant group must be “crushed” to ensure the nation’s progress. His strong remarks come against a backdrop of escalating violence along the volatile Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

“The Taliban has resurfaced, and we cannot move forward without crushing this menace,” Sharif said, acknowledging the mounting toll of terrorism on Pakistan’s stability.

Paying tribute to the sacrifices of Pakistani soldiers and law enforcement officers, he said, “Every day, there is a new incident. Whether it is 10 officers, 5, or members of the Frontier Corps, police, or the Army, their martyrdom represents the ultimate sacrifice. We must honour them and convey to the nation that defeating this monster is our shared target.”

Sharif’s call for unity underscored the gravity of the situation, as he emphasised the need for political and military stakeholders to work together. “We must come together on one page to defeat this threat and secure the nation’s future,” he urged.

The Prime Minister’s declaration follows a deadly cycle of violence that has further strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan. On December 24, the Pakistani military launched airstrikes targeting suspected Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) hideouts in Afghanistan’s Paktika Province, reportedly killing 46 people, many of whom were women and children.

The Afghan Taliban condemned the strikes as a violation of sovereignty, asserting that several casualties were Afghan refugees who had fled to Pakistan.

In retaliation, the Afghan Taliban conducted attacks on December 28, killing at least 16 Pakistani soldiers. Meanwhile, the TTP has continued its campaign of terror, claiming responsibility for numerous attacks that have inflicted heavy losses on Pakistani forces.

The TTP’s resurgence poses a significant threat to Pakistan’s security. The group has intensified its activities since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, leveraging the shifting geopolitical landscape to regroup and bolster its operations.

Over the past few years, the TTP has conducted more than 1,200 attacks, with its objectives centred on overthrowing the Pakistani government and establishing an Islamic emirate governed by its interpretation of Sharia law.

This escalation has left the Pakistani government grappling with limited success in its military operations against TTP strongholds. The group’s ability to operate freely across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, coupled with its reported support from the Afghan Taliban, has further complicated Pakistan’s efforts to contain the crisis.

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