Won't let Pakistanis safety, security be compromised: army chief
Pakistan
Won’t let Pakistanis safety, security to be compromised: Army chief
RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, addressed the subject of repatriation and deportation of illegal foreigners on Thursday, emphasising that the safety and security of every Pakistani is of paramount importance and cannot be compromised at any cost.
The army chief's statement comes just five days before the November 1 deadline for the expulsion of all undocumented immigrants, which includes 1.73 million illegal Afghan refugees, from Pakistan.
The decision by Pakistan's caretaker government to remove foreigners living unlawfully was prompted by the revelation of Afghan nationals' involvement in terrorist activities and illegal practices, such as smuggling.
Pakistan has experienced an alarming surge in terrorist incidents since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, with 2023 being the deadliest year in eight years, with Afghan nationals identified in attacks on security forces.
COAS Gen Munir stated, “Pakistan's armed forces and its security and intelligence setups have fought the menace of terrorism in an exemplary manner, despite sustained and varied support from inimical forces.”
He expressed confidence that “success will be ours, InshAllah, with the continued support of the people of Pakistan”.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), during his address to the participants of the National Security Workshop-25 at the General Headquarters, the army chief asserted that the Pakistan army was fully engaged in enabling national and provincial responses in various domains, in line with other state institutions, for the collective good of the people of Pakistan.
Gen Munir averred, “We are a resilient nation that has endured the tests of time on its path to achieving peace and stability.”
The repatriation of illegal foreign nationals, including Afghans, is currently in progress, with only five days remaining for undocumented foreign nationals to leave Pakistan.
The caretaker government has mandated that all undocumented foreign nationals must leave Pakistan by November 1; otherwise, law enforcement agencies will take action as per the law of the land.
Earlier in the day, caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti stated that no compromises would be made after November 1.
He mentioned that the government had devised a final plan for dealing with foreigners living in Pakistan illegally. He said that to evacuate such foreigners, temporary camps had been set up where provincial governments would provide them with food and medical facilities.
Bugti stated that illegal immigrants would be repatriated to their countries from these holding centers.
During his address, the army chief also highlighted the economic positivity generated by multiple proactive steps, especially the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).
COAS Munir emphasised that the intelligentsia and civil society had a greater responsibility to ensure that the Pakistani people, especially the youth, remained aware and steadfast against hostile propaganda launched through a soft offensive against state institutions in Pakistan.
The National Security Workshop, an annual event at the National Defence University, is being attended by 98 participants, including parliamentarians, senior civil and armed forces officers and representatives of civil society.
The participants received a briefing on regional and internal security dynamics and the national security environment.
They were also informed about a host of measures being taken to curb illegal activities, including smuggling, power theft, narcotics prevalence, border control measures and the repatriation of illegal foreigners from Pakistan.
