Army Chief Declares 'All Options Exhausted' on Afghan Cross-Border Militancy

Peshawar, Pakistan – Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Asim Munir, has stated that the country has "exhausted all options" to persuade Afghanistan to prevent cross-border militant attacks, expressing disappointment over Kabul’s failure to curb TTP activities. This revelation came during a high-level meeting with political leaders in Peshawar earlier this week.

The army chief's visit focused on escalating violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), where militant attacks have surged since the collapse of a fragile truce with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in November 2022. General Munir noted that despite international efforts to engage Kabul, terrorist activities continue to threaten Pakistan's security.

During the meeting, political leaders from various parties unanimously expressed support for Pakistan's armed forces and law enforcement agencies. They called for a unified stance against the TTP while advocating for continued dialogue with Afghanistan.

"We have exhausted all our options," General Munir reportedly told attendees, including Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Qaumi Watan Party leader Aftab Sherpao. According to participants, the army chief emphasized that while negotiations with Kabul were ongoing, targeted intelligence-based operations would continue against militants.

Key Points from the Meeting:

• Political leaders emphasized negotiations with Kabul, stating that "war is not the solution."
• The army chief clarified that full-scale operations against the TTP are not planned but targeted actions are underway.
• The Afghan Taliban has yet to honor the 2020 Doha Agreement, which obliges Afghanistan to prevent the use of its territory for militant activities.

Expert Insights:
Brigadier Mehmood Shah, an expert on Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, criticized Kabul for its inaction, highlighting that Pakistan’s military capabilities are significant, but restraint has been exercised. "If Pakistan carries out operations inside Afghanistan, Kabul cannot complain," he said.

The meeting concluded with a unified stance to counter militancy while continuing diplomatic efforts with Afghanistan.