Chief of Army Staff Gen Asim Munir says the state's existence is paramount, saying, "If there is a state, there can be politics." Speaking to political leaders in Peshawar on Tuesday, the army chief highlighted that efforts to create a rift between the public and the army stem from foreign agendas. He reiterated Pakistan’s desire for positive relations with Afghanistan, stating differences arise only over the presence of extremist elements and cross-border terrorism.

Gen Asim Munir clarified that no large-scale operations were being conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and that targeted actions were based solely on intelligence. He urged unity against terrorism, stating, "Creating disorder is a grave sin, and without the state, nothing else matters." He further stressed the importance of learning from mistakes and accelerating work on the National Action Plan, which has collective support from all parties.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)