Pakistan Army chief advocates for a 'hard state' approach

Pakistan's Army chief, General Asim Munir, has called for the country to be transformed into a "hard state" to fight terrorism effectively. He made this statement on March 18, 2025, at a meeting of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security. This meeting followed a tragic incident where Baloch militants hijacked a passenger train, resulting in the deaths of 25 people. During the meeting, which was chaired by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, leaders from the government and military discussed the urgent need for a unified response to militancy. Gen. Munir described the fight against terrorism as a "battle for survival" for Pakistan and future generations. He stressed that the country must improve governance to address the issue of terrorism. He questioned how long Pakistan would continue to suffer losses as a "soft state," emphasizing the need for all aspects of national power to work together for sustainable development. Gen. Munir stated that anyone attempting to weaken Pakistan through terrorism would face unity among the country's forces. The meeting included Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and various political leaders, but the opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), did not attend. They sought to meet their jailed leader, Imran Khan, which was not granted. The committee condemned recent terror attacks and expressed solidarity with victims' families. They stressed the importance of implementing the National Action Plan and taking stronger measures against terrorist networks. Concerns were also raised about the use of social media by terrorist groups for recruitment and coordination. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif criticized the PTI for their absence, stating that politics should not interfere with national security discussions. The meeting occurred after a series of attacks in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, revealing a volatile security situation in those regions.