Foreign powers arming resurgent extremists within Pakistan: PM Sharif

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Friday he will eliminate terrorism from the country’s borders, stating that extremist groups have resurfaced with support from foreign adversaries, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).

Speaking at the National Paigham-e-Aman Committee meeting, PM Sharif said that Fitna al-Khawarij, a term used for extremist militants, represent a nexus between the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Tehrik-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA).

He pledged to "lift terrorism from Pakistan's borders and sink it in the Indian Ocean."

The newly formed peace committee is a body comprising religious scholars from various Islamic schools of thought and minority community representatives.
PM Sharif said more than 100,000 Pakistanis have died in the war against terrorism, including civilians and security forces. “The scourge was largely eliminated in 2018 but has re-emerged,” he said.

He referenced Pakistan's military confrontation with India in May 2025, calling it "the battle of truth" that resulted in victory under Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir's leadership. He attributed the success to military training, technology and prayers of 240 million citizens.

PM Sharif outlined broader goals of eradicating poverty, reducing debt and tackling unemployment. He said Pakistan possesses natural resources worth trillions of dollars that remain underutilized.

"National unity and solidarity are greater than ever before," PM Sharif said, adding that followers of all religions have rights to worship freely.

National Paigham-e-Aman Committee Convener Maulana Tahir Ashrafi said the group plans a two-day conference of religious scholars in the country’s north-western province, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, following consultations with the governor. Committee members will visit provincial areas and engage with military personnel.

Representatives from Hindu and Christian communities pledged support for national peace efforts.

Director General of Religious Education Ghulam Qamar said Pakistan's 36,000 religious schools now incorporate contemporary sciences alongside traditional Islamic education, providing technical and vocational training to students.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Federal Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry attended the meeting.