Altaf Hussain Criticizes Pakistan’s New Military Operation in KPK and Balochistan
Altaf Hussain, the founder and leader of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), has strongly condemned the Pakistani government’s decision to start a military operation called ‘Azm-e-Isthekam’ in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Balochistan provinces. In a recent video message, Hussain demanded that the government and the army stop the operation, which he claims targets Pakhtuns under the guise of fighting the Taliban.
Hussain compared this operation to past military actions, criticizing Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the founder of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), for supporting military operations that led to the breakup of Pakistan. He also criticized Bhutto’s daughter, Benazir Bhutto, for continuing military actions against the MQM and the Mohajir community.
This condemnation follows a statement by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who, during a press conference in Peshawar on July 8, 2024, highlighted a rise in terrorism in KPK and Balochistan and called for decisive action. Although Bilawal did not specifically mention ‘Operation Azm-e-Isthekam,’ Hussain interpreted his comments as an endorsement of violence against innocent Pakhtun and Baloch citizens.
The Pakistani government, led by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, has stated that the operation is aimed at terrorists, but Hussain is skeptical. He argued that such operations are often directed against democratic parties opposing military rule. Hussain expressed frustration over previous military operations, such as Operation Zarb-e-Azb and Operation Rudd-ul-Fasaad, which, despite official claims of success, have not improved the situation for innocent citizens.
Hussain accused the Pakistani military and intelligence services of creating the Taliban and now using their existence as a pretext for further military action. He called for unity among all oppressed groups in Pakistan, including Mohajirs, to resist this operation. Hussain demanded an immediate halt to military operations in KPK and Balochistan, threatening a united struggle by oppressed groups to save Pakistan.
He also questioned why Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was advocating for military operations in KPK and Balochistan while ignoring the lawlessness in the Kacha area of interior Sindh, where the PPP has provincial governance. Concluding his statement, Hussain questioned the Bhutto family’s legacy of supporting military operations and condemned the threatening remarks of Major General Kashif Khalil towards the people of Gilgit Baltistan.
