The Federal Cabinet approved Rs20 billion for Operation Azm-e-Istahkam aimed at combating terrorism in the country, on Tuesday.
According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, also discussed the overall security and economic situation in the country.
In addition to this, the Cabinet has authorised the export of 100,000 metric tonnes of sugar and approved Rs1.95 billion for FC Balochistan to enhance security for the Reko Diq project. During the meeting, the Prime Minister highlighted the recent surge in terrorist activities, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where over 50 civilians have lost their lives.
The PM emphasised the involvement of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from Afghanistan in these attacks. He reiterated the government's commitment to providing all necessary resources to eliminate terrorism and ensure the safety and development of Pakistan. Addressing the meeting, PM Shehbaz said TTP terrorists wanted to stop the economic progress and development in different fields of Pakistan. He said the time had come to eradicate terrorism from the country.
Addressing the cabinet members, PM Minister Shehbaz Sharif categorically announced that the government would neither hold any talks nor show any leniency to the terrorists who were poised to disrupt the country’s journey towards progress.
“The time has come to eliminate terrorism. The sacrifices being rendered for the cause will never be squandered. We need to move forward with firm resolve. There is no question of any weakness. We are open to talks with those who believe in the supremacy of Pakistan’s constitution and respect its flag. But there can be no leniency or talks with those who are enemies in the guise of friends. This is a clear message. There are no two opinions on this,” the prime minister said addressing the meeting of the federal cabinet chaired by him.
The prime minister began his remarks by reiterating the condemnation of the terror incidents held in different parts of the country during the last couple of days killing dozens of citizens and the officers and personnel of the security forces.
Referring to the killing of passengers in Balochistan on Monday, he said such incidents could not terrorize the people. “Such unholy designs are just meant to impede the country’s progress, ongoing CPEC projects in Balochistan and undermine the relationship between Pakistan and China,” he remarked.
He told the cabinet members that the government had assured to provide all-out resources to the armed forces to fight out the terrorists and that the Chief of the Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir and the armed forces personnel were determined to purge this scourge. “Inshallah, their nefarious designs will be foiled, provided we identify our enemies and forge unity to eliminate them,” he urged.
Calling the recent terror incidents a “moment of reflection”, Prime Minister Shehbaz reiterated there was no room for terrorists in the country. He announced that he would visit Balochistan very soon to hold in-depth deliberations on the situation and decide on immediate measures.
The cabinet members also offered Fateha for the victims of terror incidents and Rana Afzaal, the brother of Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, who passed away on Monday.
The prime minister said that it was no secret that the terrorists of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operating from Afghanistan were behind these terrorist attacks. The government has sensitised the Afghan government on the subject and also taken effective actions against them, he added.