ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Wednesday briefed President Asif Ali Zardari about the “aggressive and provocative actions of the Afghan Taliban regime”.
Field Marshal Munir visited President Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad, where he briefed the President on the country’s internal and external security environment, read a press release issued by the President’s Secretariat.
During the meeting, the Marshal assessed President Zardari on the security situation on the Pakistan-Afghan border, following unprovoked firing by Taliban forces on several border posts in recent days.
The COAS also briefed the President on the “measured and appropriate response of the Armed Forces of Pakistan”.
The border clashes between Pakistani and Afghan forces began last week when Afghan forces opened fire without provocation at several border points, including Angoor Adda, Bajaur and Kurram.
In their retaliatory strikes, Pakistani forces hit several Afghan posts and terrorist hideouts at several border points.
Several Afghan posts were destroyed, while Pakistani forces also captured up to 19 Afghan border posts.
Security sources said the retaliatory strikes led to the deaths of dozens of Taliban fighters and foreign militants.
During his meeting with COAS Munir, President Zardari expressed full confidence in the strength and preparedness of the Pakistan Armed Forces.
The President commended the security forces for their vigilance and professionalism in defending the borders and quickly suppressing cross-border attacks.
He reiterated that Pakistan would defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity at all costs.
Meanwhile, Pakistani forces repelled another attack launched by the Afghan Taliban in Spin Boldak area of Balochistan early in the morning.
“In the early hours of October 15, the Afghan Taliban resorted to cowardly attacks in four locations in the Spin Boldak region of Balochistan. The attack was effectively repelled by Pakistani forces,” said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the military.
