
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has expressed firm resolve that government will not allow terrorists to use safe havens inside Afghanistan to attack Pakistan.
Addressing a seminar in Islamabad today, he said Pakistan's desire for peace must not be construed as its weakness.
The Minister said the United Nations and independent assessments estimate that more than six thousand TTP terrorists are present in Afghanistan, while the total number of terrorists is estimated to exceed twenty thousand.
Attaullah Tarar said since the return of the Afghan Taliban in 2021, the TTP has continued to exploit Afghan territory for recruitment, training, facilitation, planning and launching attacks against Pakistan using the Afghan soil.
He said the 38th UN Monitoring Report has recorded the relocation of almost two thousand TTP terrorists and their families from border areas to deep inside Afghanistan.
Highlighting the cost paid by Pakistan in the war against terrorism, the Minister said no other nation in the world can claim that they have lost more than 90,000 lives and suffered economic losses over 100 billion dollars.
He said Pakistan stands as a symbol of resistance against terrorism across the globe. He termed Pakistan as a shield between the terrorists and the rest of the world.
Attaullah Tarar said Pakistan's role recently in the mediation process between the United States and Iran has once again proven that we believe in peace and we genuinely want to bring peace to the world.
He said the world is acknowledging immense efforts made in mediation process under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
Attaullah Tarar said a very welcome change took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa yesterday which will now empower the people of the province to fight against terrorism.
He said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are very firm and resolute for fighting the war against terrorism.