ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday decided to launch a comprehensive military operation against terrorist groups in the country’s southwestern Balochistan province.
The country’s Apex Committee of the National Action Plan (NAP)—comprising top civil and military leadership—held a crucial huddle chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The meeting reviewed the law and order situation, particularly in Balochistan, which has witnessed a sharp increase in terror attacks by outlawed terrorist groups.
The meeting was attended by Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, intelligence chiefs, Police chiefs, provincial chief ministers, and key federal ministers.
It has been decided that the operation will focus on organisations such as the Majeed Brigade, the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), the Baloch Liberation Front (BLF), and BRAS, which have been linked to attacks on civilians and foreign nationals.
These groups are involved in terror activities and attempting to disrupt Pakistan’s economic development by fostering insecurity at the behest of hostile external powers.
According to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office, the primary agenda of the meeting was to reinvigorate Pakistan’s counter-terrorism (CT) strategy in the face of growing security challenges.
The committee received an extensive briefing on the evolving security landscape, which highlighted the increasing threats posed by terrorism, sub-nationalism, and religious extremism.
In addition, the meeting addressed issues such as the crime-terror nexus, illegal networks, and efforts to undermine national unity through disinformation campaigns.
One of the key points raised during the discussions was the necessity of political cohesion and a unified national narrative to tackle these multifaceted threats. The participants stressed the importance of cross-party support and national consensus in reinvigorating the country’s counter-terrorism efforts under the framework of Vision Azm-e-Istehkam (Vision of Stability and Determination).
Among the decisions made was the revitalisation of the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) and the creation of National and Provincial Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centres.
These bodies will serve as critical hubs for intelligence sharing and coordination between federal and provincial governments, ensuring a more integrated approach to tackling terrorism and other security threats.
The committee also approved the establishment of district coordination committees under the Provincial Apex Committees. These bodies will ensure that directions from federal and provincial governments are effectively implemented at the local level.
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At the conclusion of the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged all stakeholders to prioritise the outlined initiatives and execute them in a timely and efficient manner. He emphasised that sustained, coordinated efforts were essential to safeguarding Pakistan’s sovereignty, protecting its citizens, and ensuring economic and social stability.
General Asim Munir reaffirmed the Pakistan Army’s commitment to eliminating all threats to national security. He pledged the military’s full support for the government’s efforts to restore peace and stability across the country, especially in restive Balochistan.
The meeting underscored a whole-of-systems approach to countering terrorism, combining diplomatic, political, intelligence, socio-economic, and military measures to address the country’s security challenges and threats—both internal and external—with a clear and unified strategy.
