Army Chief Munir pledges decisive action against Terrorism ‘Wherever It Exists’

WEB DESK: Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces, has reaffirmed the nation’s unwavering resolve to dismantle terrorist networks “wherever they may be.

” Speaking during an interaction with religious scholars (Ulema) in Rawalpindi, the military chief emphasised that intelligence-based operations would continue to target insurgent infrastructure with precision, according to Dawn News.

The statement, released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Thursday, comes as Pakistan enters a “temporary pause” in Operation Ghazab lil-Haq.

The military campaign, which was launched on 26 February following cross-border provocations, has been halted in observance of Eid-ul-Fitr and following diplomatic requests from “brotherly Islamic countries.”

Regional de-escalation and internal security

During his address, Field Marshal Munir highlighted Pakistan’s proactive diplomatic efforts to seek regional stability, specifically referencing the ongoing tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

He maintained a firm stance on domestic order, warning that “violence in Pakistan, on the basis of incidents occurring in another country, will not be tolerated.”

The Field Marshal called upon the Ulema to act as a bulwark against extremism and misinformation. He stressed that religious sentiments must never be exploited to incite violence, urging the scholars to promote national cohesion and counter “externally sponsored destabilisation efforts.

” The gathered participants responded with a formal condemnation of violence in the name of religion, pledging their “wholehearted support” to law enforcement agencies.

Terms of the truce and operational impact

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that the cessation of hostilities would be effective from midnight on 18 March through to midnight on 23 March. Described as a “gesture in good faith” aligned with Islamic norms, the Minister issued a stern caveat: any cross-border provocation, drone strike, or domestic terror incident would result in the immediate resumption of the offensive with “renewed intensity.”

The scale of the military campaign prior to the pause has been considerable, reflecting a sustained and coordinated effort to degrade militant capabilities across multiple fronts.

According to official figures, security forces eliminated 707 militants while injuring more than 938 others, significantly weakening their operational strength and disrupting command structures.

In addition to personnel losses, militant infrastructure suffered extensive damage. A total of 255 posts were destroyed, while 44 were captured by advancing forces, indicating both offensive momentum and territorial gains. These actions have constrained militant mobility and reduced their ability to regroup or launch coordinated attacks.

The campaign also targeted heavy military hardware, with 237 tanks, armoured vehicles, and artillery systems neutralised. Complementing ground operations, airpower played a decisive role, with 81 locations across Afghanistan struck to dismantle insurgent sanctuaries and logistical hubs, further limiting cross-border support networks.

Following Islamabad’s announcement, the Afghan Taliban also declared a temporary suspension of their military operations against Pakistan, marking a brief window of de-escalation in the volatile border region.