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Pakistan has asked the US to provide sophisticated arms and modern equipment to ensure the success of Operation Azm-i-Istehkam; however, Washington has yet to respond to Pakistan’s request.
Recently, the government of Pakistan, in a high-level meeting of both political and military leaders, approved a new operation, Azm-i-Istehkam, against the rising terrorism in the country. However, opposition parties and civil society in Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan are opposing the new operation. They also accuse the government of announcing the operation at the behest of the US. In this context, asking for arms from the US for the operation will make it more controversial in the country.
Pakistan’s envoy to the US, Masood Khan, has asked Washington to provide small arms and modern equipment to ensure the success of Operation Azm-i-Istehkam.
“Pakistan has launched Azm-i-Istehkam to oppose and dismantle terrorist networks. For that, we need sophisticated small arms and communication equipment,” said Ambassador Khan while addressing US policymakers, scholars, intelligentsia, and corporate leaders at a Washington think tank, the Wilson Center, earlier this week.
During a subsequent question-and-answer session, he elaborated that Azm-i-Istehkam comprises three components: doctrinal, societal, and operational. He noted that work on the first two phases had already begun, with the third phase set to be implemented soon.
So far, the US has not reacted to Pakistan’s request for arms.