Pakistan’s army chief warns neighbors against hostile attacks

Pakistan’s army chief said this week that the life of one Pakistani is more important than all of Afghanistan.

Addressing students from universities across the country on Islamabad’s foreign policy priorities with its eastern and western neighbors, General Syed Asim Munir said: “When it comes to the safety and security of every single Pakistani, the whole of Afghanistan can be damned.”

He said Pakistan had provided food for five million Afghan nationals for 50 years, but “when it comes to our children, we will pursue those who attack them”.

He stated that insurgency in Balochistan has long been supported by Afghanistan, and the western neighbor has never shown friendship towards Pakistan, the Tribune reported.

Issuing a warning to Kabul, he said: “Do not look towards Pakistan. We are ready to sacrifice anything and everything,”

This comes amid accusations by Pakistan that since the takeover of Afghanistan by the Islamic Emirate, attacks on the country by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have increased substantially.

The IEA has however repeatedly denied the accusations and has said it will not allow any group to pose a threat to another country from Afghanistan.

On relations with India, Munir said: “India has not reconciled with the concept of Pakistan, then how can we reconcile with it.”

He also addressed Pakistan’s relations with Iran, specifically mentioning the recent missile attacks by Tehran in Balochistan.

“You cannot backstab us, and if you do, you will get a befitting reply,” he said, reiterating that no one would be allowed to breach Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the Tribune reported.

Pakistan fired at targets on Iranian territory after Iran targeted militants on Pakistani territory two days earlier.