By Staff Reporter
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s military’s top leadership pledged on Friday to counter foreign proxies and hostile internal actors destabilising the southwestern Balochistan province, a region plagued by a decades-long separatist insurgency, saying it would eradicate terrorism in all its forms, regardless of the cost.
The 268th Corps Commanders’ Conference (CCC), held at army headquarters in Rawalpindi and chaired by Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir, opened with tributes to soldiers, law enforcement officers, and civilians killed in counter-terrorism operations. Attendees offered prayers for the deceased, honoring their “supreme sacrifices for peace and stability”
A statement by the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said the forum reviewed Pakistan’s prevailing geo-strategic environment, emerging national security challenges, and Pakistan’s strategic response to evolving threats.
“It reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to bringing the full force of the state against facilitators and abettors acting on the behest of hostile elements seeking to destabilize the country,” ISPR said. “The forum reaffirmed its resolve to eradicate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations regardless of the cost.”
The forum reaffirmed its commitment to dismantling terror networks and their domestic facilitators.
“No one will be allowed to disrupt peace in Balochistan and nefarious designs of foreign-sponsored proxies including social disruptive elements and their so-called political supporters advancing their narrow political interests at the cost of stability and prosperity of Balochistan will be decisively thwarted with the unwavering support of the people of Balochistan, InshaAllah,” the statement said.
“The real face of all foreign and domestic elements, the nexus between them and their endeavours to induce chaos and thrive on it stand fully exposed and will be dealt without impunity.”
The military did not name specific countries, but Pakistan has long accused rivals such as India and Afghanistan of supporting Baloch insurgents — charges both deny.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province by landmass and rich in mineral resources, has been the site of an insurgency for the last two decades. The separatists accuse Islamabad of exploiting the province’s natural resources, such as gold and copper. Successive Pakistani governments have denied the allegations.
General Munir emphasized accelerating vision Azm-e-Istehkam, a national counter-terrorism strategy launched June 2024, through “whole-of-nation” collaboration. “The state apparatus and institutions will resolutely implement the law within the confines of the Constitution and no leniency and infirmity will be shown.”
The army chief also lauded newly established District Coordination Committees for improving inter-agency coordination and urged strict enforcement of laws targeting illicit economic activities that fund militancy.
“Pakistan Army will extend full support to the government and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in enforcing stringent legal measures against illicit economic activities, which are intrinsically linked to the financing of terrorism. There is no space for terrorists and their facilitators in Pakistan”.
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