ISLAMABAD, Feb 23 (APP): Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry while vowing that there would be no compromise on national security, on Monday informed the Senate that no one would be allowed to weaken Pakistan’s defence.
Speaking in the Senate, he said that the government is not oblivious to the protection of its people and territory, adding that the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on February 21 carried out intelligence-based airstrikes in three provinces of Afghanistan to target safe hideouts of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Fitna al Khwarij terrorists.
He said that over 100 terrorists have been killed in the airstrikes.
The minister said Pakistan had presented solid evidence of terrorism originating from Afghanistan to the Taliban government. Details of terrorist safe havens and training camps were also shared with Afghan authorities, he added.
However, he said that no serious effort was made by the Taliban government to dismantle these networks.
“In negotiations, Rs 10 billion was demanded from Pakistan to resettle terrorists on the other side,” he said, adding that Islamabad was not provided with any written guarantee ensuring that there would be no further infiltration into Pakistan.
He said that the airstrikes were carried out on the basis of intelligence, during which terrorist safe havens and training camps were successfully targeted. No action was taken against civilians during the strikes, he added.
He said that operations were being carried out against terrorists within the country. He further said that around 35 to 36 innocent people were martyred in a suicide attack at an Imambargah in Tarlai. Armed forces officers and soldiers were also martyred in Bajaur and Bannu, he added.
“We are carrying out funerals. Our soldiers are fighting to defend the country,” he said.
After the occurrence of such tragic incidents, it was decided that a decisive response should be given to the terrorists.
He went on to say that the “fabric of all terrorist incidents” in Pakistan originates from Afghanistan. “Pakistan can no longer tolerate all this,” he said.