We will never allow banned Fitna al Khawarij to impose its values onto country: COAS Munir

The Pakistan Army would never allow the banned Fitna al Khawarij, erstwhile TTP, to impose its values onto the country, Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir has said.

“We will never ever allow this kind of perverted group to impose its values onto our country,” he said while interacting with the youth on February 12.

A video of his interaction with a delegation of university and college students from across Pakistan earlier this week was released on the national media.

Pakistan has been battling a resurgence of militant violence in its western border regions since the Taliban’s 2021 return to power in Afghanistan.

Last year saw casualties hit a six-year high, with more than 1,500 civilians, security forces and militants killed, according to the Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies.

The army chief told students that the army was still fighting against the outlawed terrorist group on a “daily basis” and they don’t agree with their interpretation of religion.

“Islam is the first religion in the world which elevated the status of women to the new heights whether she is the mother, wife or a sister. The maximum possible respect your religion has given to women,” he said and slammed terrorists for taking away the rights of women.

“Nobody can take it away.”

He said that it was “heartening” to interact with the youth of the country as it reassures the army of the country’s future “to be in safe hands.”

COAS Munir said: “For as long as, the nation is standing behind Pakistan Army, especially the youth standing behind Pakistan Army and for as long as we have this spirit of sacrifice inside us, Pakistan Army Insh’Allah will not fall, we fight like comrades.”

The army chief described it as a “beauty of Pakistan Army”, saying that they serve the country irrespective of different ethnic backgrounds. “We have no idea who is Pashtun, who is Sindhi, who is Balochi, who is Pathan. We just fight like comrades.”

He went on to add that “Pakistaniat” was enough for the army. “We all are Pakistanis and we love that. We, the Pakistan Army, are fighting with fasadis today. We are fighting against Fitna al Khawarij. They say they are doing jihad. They are actually kharjees. They are gone out of deen because they have their own perverted interpretation of Islam which is not allowed in Islam.”

Terrorists can expect mercy from the state when they seek forgiveness and surrender before state, the army chief said.