On June 29, 2024, Pakistan’s ambassador to the US has urged the US to provide small arms and modern equipment to his country to ensure the success of Operation Azm-i-Istehkam, Islamabad’s newly approved counter-terrorism initiative. The decision to launch the ‘Azm-e-Istehkam’ operation was taken on June 22 at the apex committee meeting of the National Action Plan, a strategy approved in 2014 to eliminate militancy from the country. The federal government recently approved the reinvigorated national counter-terrorism drive. Ambassador Masood Khan emphasized the need for sophisticated small arms and communication equipment to dismantle terrorist networks as part of the Azm-i-Istehkam initiative. Khan highlighted the three components of the operation: doctrinal, societal, and operational, with groundwork already underway for the first two phases. The US State Department expressed support for Pakistan’s efforts, acknowledging the country’s suffering from terrorist attacks. The article further elaborates on the bilateral relationship between Pakistan and the US, emphasizing the importance of security cooperation and intelligence sharing to combat terrorism and ensure regional security. Khan also urged the US to consider Pakistan as a partner in diplomatic efforts in Kabul and collaborate on counterterrorism and women’s rights in Afghanistan. The article also addresses the US’s cautious stance on supplying arms to Pakistan, emphasizing the importance of upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms in the region.
