The government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to start a national conversation to combat terrorism and extremism in the nation, according to sources who spoke with Geo News on Thursday. The government is finalizing its plan for Operation Azm-e-Istehkam.
The sources further stated that PM Shehbaz has given cabinet members confidence on the parameters of the new counterterrorism operation and the rationale behind initiating the new anti-terror campaign.
The Central Apex Committee of the National Action Plan authorized several decisions last month, including the start of Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, according to the federal cabinet.
According to the sources, the provincial administrations received the territories that had been freed from terrorist control by the security forces.
“Due to the failure of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, terrorists returned to the cleared areas,” the statement continued.
Awami National Party (ANP), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), and other political parties expressed disapproval of the government’s decision.
In response, the Center has insisted that “no large-scale military operation is being launched” in the nation, guaranteeing that the issue would be brought before the legislature and possibly leading to mass evictions.
In order to reach an agreement on the operation, PM Shehbaz has also decided to call an all-parties conference (APC). Imran Khan, the founder of the PTI, has endorsed the move and stated that his party will be present at the meeting, which will be hosted by the government.
