Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir called on President Asif Ali Zardari at the Presidency on Wednesday where the two discussed threats to internal and external security.
The meeting comes after escalating border clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, in which security forces repelled an attack by the Afghan Taliban along the Balochistan border this morning, killing 15 to 20 fighters, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.
Today’s clash, the third major skirmish between Pakistan and Afghanistan in a week, follows the incident in Kurram on Tuesday night and earlier skirmishes that began on Saturday night and continued into Sunday morning at several locations.
According to a statement by the President’s Secretariat, Field Marshal Munir briefed the President on the overall internal and external security picture of Pakistan.
“He (the army chief) also briefed the president on the recent security situation arising from the aggressive and provocative actions of the Afghan Taliban regime as well as the measured and appropriate response of the Pakistan Armed Forces,” the statement read.
He added that the president reaffirmed that Pakistan will defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity at all costs and expressed full confidence in the “strength, valor, capability and readiness of the Pakistan Armed Forces.”
President Zardari “praised their (military) vigilance and professionalism in defending the nation’s borders and quickly repelling cross-border attacks along the Afghan border,” the statement concluded.
Later, President Zardari met a delegation led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and discussed issues of national importance, including the prevailing political and security situation, and recent regional and international developments affecting Pakistan’s strategic and economic interests.
Prime Minister Shehbaz briefed the President on his recent visits to Egypt and Malaysia, including his engagements with international leaders and his efforts for peace in Gaza.
“President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif also held a one-on-one discussion, during which they exchanged views on key national priorities and the general direction of government policies. Both leaders agreed to continue political consultations on matters of national importance,” a PPP statement said.
According to the ISPR, 23 Pakistani soldiers were martyred and 29 wounded in weekend skirmishes that began with the Afghan Taliban attacking posts across the border.
The military’s media affairs wing also said credible intelligence estimates and damage assessment showed that “more than 200 Taliban and affiliated terrorists have been neutralized, while the number of injured is much higher.”
Afghanistan claimed it carried out the attack as a “retaliation” measure, accusing Islamabad of carrying out airstrikes on its territory last week. For its part, Islamabad did not confirm whether it was behind the airstrikes, but stressed Pakistan’s right and determination to defend itself.
The weekend clash took place against a backdrop of Pakistan suffering multiple casualties among security forces in intelligence-based operations against terrorists.
Islamabad has repeatedly called on Kabul to prohibit terrorist groups from using its territory to attack Pakistan; However, Afghanistan denies the allegations and claims that Afghan soil is not used for attacks against neighboring countries.
The issue of terrorists using Afghan soil against Pakistan has long strained ties between the two countries and ties appear to have taken a nosedive with the recent surge in border hostilities.
