Gen Asim Munir takes charge as new Army chief
ISLAMABAD/KABUL: Pakistan’s new military chief took command of the country’s armed forces on Tuesday amid a deepening political rift between the government and the popular opposition leader, as well as a renewed threat from a key militant group that has been behind scores of deadly attacks over 15 years.
One of the key challenges faced by the country’s new army chief, Gen Asim Munir, will be how to respond to the latest threat from the Pakistani Taliban, known as TTP (Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan), which has ordered its fighters to resume attacks across the country.
The Pakistani Taliban are a separate group but are allies of the Afghanistan Taliban, who seized power in Afghanistan more than a year ago as the US and Nato troops were in the final stages of their pullout.
Pakistan sends minister to Kabul for talks
Pakistan’s junior foreign minister is in Kabul for talks with the Taliban regime a day after a local offshoot of the militant group ended a ceasefire with the government in Islamabad.
Hina Rabbani Khar will hold talks with the Afghan government on multiple issues, including security, according to a statement from the foreign ministry.
The ceasefire, brokered by the Taliban-run government in Afghanistan, had been in place since May this year.
With the Taliban in control of neighbouring Afghanistan, Islamabad has been concerned that a spillover in terror activities could affect investments, including China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which has seen $25 billion poured into power plants and road projects.