Pakistan Weighs New Military Offensive Amidst Political Debate

Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif plans to consult Parliament on a new military offensive against terrorists, following demands from Imran Khan’s party. The decision to launch the 'Azm-e-Istehkam' was made during a high-level meeting, but opposition lawmakers insist the issue should be debated in Parliament.

Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif announced on Sunday that Parliament will be consulted regarding a new military offensive against terrorists. The decision came after Imran Khan's party, PTI, insisted on parliamentary debate before any new operation.

The 'Azm-e-Istehkam' operation was approved on Saturday during an apex committee meeting focused on the National Action Plan, a 2014 strategy to eliminate militancy. PTI lawmakers argued that such a critical decision must be discussed in Parliament, the nation's highest forum.

Asif initially criticized PTI for their objections, pointing out that KP's Chief Minister was present during the decision-making meeting. However, he later agreed that the matter would be brought before Parliament for further debate. Asif also accused PTI of aligning with terrorists by protesting against military actions. The announcement of the new offensive aligns with concerns expressed by a Chinese official regarding the security of CPEC projects.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)