Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan yesterday said no militant group would be allowed to operate from Pakistani soil to carry out attacks abroad, days after his government announced a sweeping crackdown against Islamist
militant organisations.
Pakistan faces growing international pressure to rein in Islamist groups that carry out
attacks in neighbouring India.
One such attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir on February 14, claimed by the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) Pakistan-based group, killed 40 Indian paramilitary police and led to clashes between the nuclear-armed rivals as India retaliated.
Both countries carried out aerial bombing missions last week and even fought a brief dogfight over Kashmir before tensions cooled.
But the United States, Britain, and many other nations are urging Pakistan to act against anti-India militant groups.
Pakistan has denied Indian accusations it actively supports militants fighting Indian forces in India’s part of Kashmir.
On Monday, Pakistan announced a new crackdown against militants and by Thursday, 182 religious schools run by banned groups had been seized, and more than 120 people detained.
“This government will not allow Pakistan’s land to be used for any kind of outside terrorism,” Khan said while addressing a rally in southern Pakistan.
“God willing, you will see that a new era is emerging.”
Pakistani governments have in the past made similar pledges to stop militant attacks being launched from its soil, notably in early 2002, after a raid by Pakistani-based militants on India’s parliament brought the two countries to the brink of war.
Crackdowns have been launched with fanfare but faded out after a while, with the proscribed groups able to survive and continue their operations.
India has been sceptical about Pakistan’s latest steps to dismantle militant groups, with Indian officials calling the action cosmetic.
But Khan said there was a huge desire to build a peaceful and stable Pakistan.
“We will not allow any militant group to function in our country now,” he said.
Pakistani officials say this crackdown is part of a long-planned drive and not a response to Indian anger.
The South Asian neighbours have fought three wars since independence from Britain in 1947, two of them over Kashmir which they both claim in full but rule in part.
Health package for Thar people: Prime Minister Imran Khan announced yesterday a Health Package for Tharparkar, under which Insaf Health Cards would be provided to 112,000 families of the area, Internews reports from Islamabad.
Two modern mobile hospitals and four ambulances would also be provided, he said.
Speaking about Thar’s coal reserves, he said that the natural resources of the area would certainly change Pakistan. “I assure you that you [people of Thar] will be the first to get the benefits of the coal reserves,” he added, announcing that the government would install 100 reverse osmosis (RO) plants in the area.
The prime minister was accompanied by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and former Sindh chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim at the rally.
Prime Minister Imran Khan addresses a public gathering in Chachro town in the Tharparkar district of the southern Sindh province yesterday.
