The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet approved PKR 20 billion as a special allocation for Operation Azm-e-Istehkam during the current fiscal year 2024-25, according to an official announcement by the Ministry of Finance.
The Free Balochistan Movement (FBM) has condemned Pakistan's 'Operation Azm-e-Istehkam' as a "widened terror plan" by the establishment aimed at carrying out genocide against the Baloch and Pashtun peoples.
The protests were organized under the banner of "Amn Pasoon" (Peace Movement) and the demonstrators highlighted that the province survived the displacement caused by military actions.
The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) led the protest, with participation from various local ethnic groups. The protestors demanded an end to the mercenary war and the "terrorist military policy in the Pashtun homeland.
According to a recent editorial in Dawn, the move underscores Pakistan's recognition of the importance of addressing China's security concerns, especially at a time when attracting foreign investment is critical for the country's economic development.
During a high-level meeting held in Islamabad, PTI leaders including Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, and Asad Qaiser gathered to deliberate on the implications of Operation Azm-e-Istehkam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.