Islamabad, March 19 Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, said on Thursday that the country "will not tolerate the use of Afghan soil for conducting terrorism against its people."
Munir made the statement during an interaction with Ulema of the Ahl-e-Tasheeh (Shia) community in Rawalpindi, the army said in a statement.
Referring to Operation Ghazab lil Haq (Righteous Fury), he emphasized that "Pakistan will not tolerate the use of Afghan soil for conducting terrorism against its people, and reiterated its resolve to eliminate terrorists and their infrastructure operating against Pakistan."
Pakistan launched the operation on February 26 in response to alleged attacks by the Afghan Taliban forces along the 2,600-km-long border.
Munir further stated that the Afghan Taliban must prevent the use of Afghan soil for terrorism against Pakistan.
He also highlighted Pakistan's efforts and "proactive diplomacy in seeking regional de-escalation."
He emphasized the critical role of Ulema in strengthening unity and countering extremism, reiterating that religious sentiments must not be exploited to incite violence in the country.
"Violence in Pakistan, based on incidents occurring in another country, will not be tolerated," he said.
The participating Ulema expressed their desire for peace and stability and condemned violence in the name of religion, while expressing wholehearted support to law enforcement agencies in bringing about peace and stability in the country.
Pakistan and Afghanistan announced a "temporary pause" in fighting on Wednesday in view of Eid-ul-Fitr, at the request of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar, a day after the Afghan government accused Islamabad of killing 400 people in an attack on a rehabilitation hospital in Kabul.