Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Kayani has said that the Pakistan Army would have no objection if the government decided in favour of talks with the Taliban. Following a security briefing by top military leaders to the Senate and National Assembly standing committees on defence and defence production at the Army Auditorium in General Headquarters, a source told Pakistan Today that the army chief had, however, made it clear that militants challenging Pakistan’s sovereignty would be dealt with sternly.
Earlier, Gen Kayani and Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Major General Ashfaq Nadeem gave a detailed security briefing to the Senate and National Assembly standing committees on defence and defence production. The military leadership expressed concern over the inordinate delay in amendments to the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), saying action against terrorists would not help the country until the lacunae in the law were removed to effectively deal with the criminals who took advantage of weaknesses in the law of evidence and went scot-free.
An ISPR statement issued after the nearly four-hour-long briefing said General Kayani welcomed the honourable parliamentarians to the General Headquarters. “After a formal brief by the DGMO, an interactive session of questions and answers followed. The focus remained on the ongoing military operations,” it said.
General Kayani also shared various matters related to the defence budget. The members of the Senate and National Assembly standing committees thanked the COAS on hosting a comprehensive briefing session and clarifying their queries and doubts, the statement added. A parliamentarian, who attended the briefing, said the military leadership expressed concern over the lacunas in the anti-terrorism law and urged the need for going for all necessary amendments to make the law more effective.
“The security agencies arrest terrorists but because of insufficient evidence, they are able to go scot-free,” General Kayani was quoted as saying by Sahibzada Fazal Karim. He said the military leadership was of the view that there must be effective counter-terrorism legislation and policies to deal with the menace of terrorism.
The NA Parliamentary Committee for National Security headed by Mian Raza Rabbani was also invited to attend the security briefing, but it said no to the invitation on grounds that it was against parliamentary norms and practices and the generals should come to parliament and brief parliamentarians there.
The parliamentary bodies on defence, however, opted to attend the GHQ briefing, with PML-N senior leader Raja Zafarul Haq also attending.
Sahibzada Fazal Karim told Pakistan Today that General Kayani said there would be no compromise on Pakistan’s sovereignty. “No one shall be allowed to go for assaults in Pakistani territory and all preparations for the defence of country have been carried out,” General Kayani was quoted as saying. He said the military leadership expressed concern over the repeated attacks by Afghanistan-based militants in Pakistani border regions close to Dir and Chitral. “The military leaders informed the parliamentarians that they had deployed additional troops along the Afghan border and any incursions would be given a matching response,” Fazal Karim said. He said the parliamentarians were of the view that the recently held All-Parties Conference had given a clear message to the world that the whole nation was united for defending the country’s sovereignty.
A security official, who requested anonymity, said the military leaders told parliamentarians that any military operation against militants would be carried out in accordance with the guidelines set by parliament. He added that senior military officials said Pakistan wanted friendly ties with Washington on basis of equality and expected the same from the US.
Well done and congratulations for a very positive thinking.
Gen Kyani and others in Pakistan Army and Salman Bashir , Foreign Secretary of Pakistan and others in foreign office deserve credit for how they have managed the course of events in the very recent past.
Our present political leaders had nearly taken us to the cleaners.
Well done and good luck gentlemen.
Mr. Imran Khan has been advising the policy of talks with Taliban since ages and now the army chief has given his NOC for these talks. We must salute Imran Khan for his vision, wisdom and patriotism.
Very interesting. In civilized world, policiies to attack a country ore start war with a foe is set by the elected members. In Pakistan, Army chief is saying that military has no objection if civilian government holds negotiations wih militants. Where is the President and Prime Minister? Do they have any say in this matter. Wake up you guys and take charge. It is your responsibility to do or not to do such negitiations. Military has to follow your orders. But alas, you do have the guts to take charge. You are hiding and playing games so that your chair is not rocked by the Army.
What do you mean "Where is the President and Prime Minister?" Don't you see a lot of their pictures including the ones in PT? They are regularly quoted on such difficult job as "directing", "ordering", "taking notice" etc.
I can assure you that they are real; and by no means you can call them paper chickens.
Face the truth, the political leadership is impotent as they all look for nods from outside. Whether we like it or not, Army is the one facing the killers not the politicians. We may may low opinion of military establishment, but thus far our politicians in last 3.5 years have taken dictation from overseas. I assume with the ‘strength’ our politicians have you just wish them to continue.
Chocho…what civilized world are we talking about? Civilized world that sits in total safety flying drones half way across the world? Civilized world that wants it paid mercenary allies to do more, because they themselves can’t. Lets not talk of a civilized world that calls itself civilized. Worst, military is a part of this country not a foreign attacker. Look at 10 houses on your left and right, and if they have a son/daughter in military, then you are in Pakistan. If not…….you are not here!
imran khan has been saying this for more than five years and he was labelled as taliban khan. salute to imran khan
So Imran Khan has been right all along. Are you going to vote for him?
If US can negotiate with Taliban then why can’t we…Moreover, i think they ‘ll be willing to talk to Pakistan more than US..
Yes Shariq, even in 2001 before you attacked, then Pakistan government even then told USA the same thing…”Talk to Taliban”. Yes, I think Afghan Taliban will be more open to talking to Pakistan then to USA, as USA has major trust deficit. Also you cannot negotiate and kill at the same time as US seems to think. USA has muddied the water already by involving India in the “Afghan-India” strategic pact. Honestly that pact will have zero value whenever a Taliban led government comes in place in Afghanistan. It has been 10 years and $455 Billion spend by USA and 10 years later, they are talking NOW what was told before launching the attacks. Also remember, in war there is no “kiss and make it feel better”, the only alternate for all foreign forces is to get out of Afghanistan. Oh…I think the news today is more focused on Hilary Clintons visit in next 24 hours!!!!!!!!!!
Talibans are not killing US children. US can negotiate with them. Talibans kill children, bomb schools, massacre women in Peshawar Zanana Bazzar and than accept the responsibility. Only a deranged nation can negotiate with such mindset
does this mean that the important decisions come from the Army? Was the COAS asked by the Govt to give his opinion on the issue?
You are beginning to see through the woods. You are a security risk for Pakistan…
Face the truth, your national assembly has more moles and spies then you can imagine. Their maybe live transmission devices that military matters cannot be talked. Next you have elected representatives who are more loyal to US then US themselves. Foe those who wanted the briefing outside GHQ, don’t forget GHQ is also in Pakistan and may have been made more secure then we may know. Hate to say it, but as Pakistani’s we are more concerned about letting each other down then finding a way out of this mess.
No war is the world has finished without eventually coming to the talks, and there has never been ever any winners. Who won WW1 & 2? What did they gain? Financial disaster!!! Right.
Who won Vietnam? USA lost it, but Vietnam so called won. What did they win…devastation. Who won Afghan-Soviet war? In Arab-Israeli war, Israeli’s may have beaten the Arab armies, but look at the nation of paranoids. You call that winning!
Now the Iraq war? Who won? What did they win. Over 500 Billion out of the pocket with hope of recovery from Iraqi oil wealth. Naaaa, look at what is happening in USA because of these wars!
WARS are political failures, and USA have failed time and time again…. What has been gained? Nothing…
That’s the only way, which can stop the blood of Muslim brotherhood.
My comments has no abuse and no harsh words
Your comments are still there.
Thanks sorry
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