Pak Army Chief's Stance: 'Safety of Pakistanis Over Whole of Afghanistan'

As reported by Express Tribune, in a session with university students, General Munir stated, "When it comes to the safety and security of every single Pakistani, the whole of Afghanistan can be damned."

General Munir highlighted that the well-being of Pakistani citizens takes precedence over Afghanistan's situation. He claimed that Pakistan had been providing sustenance for five million Afghan citizens for over 50 years.

The General asserted the Pakistani Army's commitment to pursuing anyone who threatens Pakistanis. He accused Afghanistan of long-standing support for the Balochistan insurgency and lack of amicable relations with Pakistan. General Munir criticised the general public's ignorance of history, referring to Afghanistan's opposition to Pakistan joining the United Nations after its independence from India.

These comments indicate Pakistani officials' deep-seated dissatisfaction with the Taliban. The relationship between Islamabad and the Taliban-led Kabul has soured due to increasing security concerns in Pakistan.

Official figures show a marked increase in insecurity in Pakistan since the Taliban's ascent in Afghanistan. Pakistani authorities allege that the Taliban provides sanctuary and resources to militant groups opposed to the Pakistani government, like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and implicate them in recent attacks on Pakistani security forces.

Taliban spokespersons have consistently refuted these accusations, suggesting that Islamabad is blaming the Taliban for its own security lapses.