Azm-e-Istehkam designed with a consensus to eliminate terrorism

The Azm-e-Istehkam campaign has been designed with national consensus to eliminate the menace of terrorism from Pakistan, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry clarified.

According to the media reports, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry made these remarks while addressing a news conference in Rawalpindi today (Monday, July 22). He said elements having vested interests intend to make Azam-e-Istehkam controversial.

Citing a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, DG ISPR stated that Azm-e-Istehkam is an all-encompassing, multi-domain counterterrorism initiative aimed at eliminating terrorism from the nation. According to him, the campaign aims to revitalize and rejuvenate the current updated National Action Plan, which was started with widespread agreement from all political stripes. He went on to say that Azm-e-Istehkam aims to eliminate the facilitation caused by the link between terrorism and crime by reviving intelligence-based kinetic operations that are already in existence.

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He emphasized that kinetic activities are magnificently underway, highlighting the 14 elements of the National Action Plan. According to Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, 22,409 intelligence-based operations were conducted this year, resulting in the deaths of 398 terrorists and the adoption of martyrdom by 137 law enforcement agency officials and staff. The Director General stated that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan Counter-Terrorism Departments need to be reinforced, referring to the second item of the new National Action Plan. He noted that the regulation of seminaries around the nation is also part of the updated National Action Plan.

Referring to the thirteenth item in the updated National Action Plan, the Director General of ISPR stated that smuggling and non-customs paid vehicles have grown to be significant criminal enterprises that contribute to the operations of terrorist organizations. According to him, Afghan citizens go to neighboring nations with legitimate passports and visas. But if Pakistan imposes a visa requirement on its border with Afghanistan, there would be uproar. He claimed that to sustain the illicit spectrum valued at billions of rupees, they want a soft border.

In response to a query, he stated that strict regulations are needed to stop the assault of digital terrorists on social media since they are determined to erode public confidence in the military.