Islamabad, May 2 (PTI) Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said on Thursday that the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) is not a problem itself, but a few of its individuals are getting played in "foreign hands", in an apparent reference to the neighbouring countries.

Gen Bajwa made the remarks during his interaction with students of various universities of Khyber-Pakhtukhwa at Corps Auditorium.

He said that the PTM itself was not an issue and the problems being highlighted were genuine.

"However, few individuals playing in foreign hands are by design exploiting sentiments of the people who have actually suffered at the hands of terrorism and now need care," he said.

Pakistan army spokesman Monday accused the Afghan and the Indian intelligence agencies for providing funds to the PTM to stage protests against the military.

Gen Bajwa also said that both the government and the security forces are working to address genuine issues of the tribal people.

"For us progress towards enduring peace through socio-economic development comes first and we shall fail all inimical forces and their conspiracies trying to undo our gains," he said.

He urged for socio-economic development after fighting terrorism in the country.

"Pakistani nation and its Armed Forces have done a great job for fighting against terrorism. It's time now to have its dividends through socio economic development in which education is most important," he added.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)