PTBP Web Desk
Pakistan’s military on Friday reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating terrorism from the country, declaring that appeasement of terrorists and their facilitators would never be tolerated. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry emphasized that the state’s security could not be compromised for the sake of political expediency or personal agendas.
Speaking at a press conference held at the Peshawar Corps Headquarters, Lt Gen Chaudhry addressed the ongoing security challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and expressed concern over the provincial government’s reluctance to back military operations against militants. He said some political voices were advocating negotiations with terrorists rather than supporting decisive counterterrorism action — a stance the army views as counterproductive.
“The Pakistan Armed Forces are determined to eliminate terrorism in all its forms,” said the DG ISPR, adding that unity among state institutions and the public was essential to uproot the menace completely.
He questioned the rationale behind negotiating with armed groups responsible for attacks against Pakistan’s citizens and security forces. “If dialogue were the solution to every problem, should Pakistan have held talks with India after it violated our borders?” he asked, stressing that such logic was dangerously flawed.
Lt Gen Chaudhry warned that political confusion and misleading narratives had weakened national resolve against terrorism. He said that allowing space for extremists under the pretext of talks only emboldened them and endangered national security.
The military spokesperson revealed that terrorist networks were receiving both domestic and foreign support, with Afghanistan being used as a launchpad for cross-border attacks.
“In the Doha Agreement, it was agreed that Afghan soil would not be used against any other country. Yet, we see that militants involved in attacks on Pakistan are being sheltered and supported from across the border,” he said.
He accused India of exploiting Afghan territory for subversive operations against Pakistan and urged the Taliban government in Kabul to ensure that Afghan soil is not used for terrorism. “Our demand is simple — your soil must not be used for terrorism against Pakistan,” he reiterated.
Highlighting Pakistan’s counterterrorism achievements, Lt Gen Chaudhry revealed that the armed forces have conducted more than 10,000 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this year alone, neutralizing over 900 terrorists.
Tragically, 516 soldiers and civilians have been martyred in these operations. He said that many of the neutralized militants, including more than 30 suicide bombers, originated from Afghanistan. “This year’s operations represent the largest counterterrorism success in the last decade,” he added.
Pakistani ministers, he said, have also visited Afghanistan and shared evidence of terrorist facilitators operating from Afghan soil.
Lt Gen Chaudhry criticized the poor governance and weak counterterrorism infrastructure in KP, noting that the province’s Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has only 3,200 personnel — insufficient for the scale of the threat.
He pointed out that non-customs-paid vehicles are frequently used in terror attacks, making it difficult to track the culprits. Smuggling, he warned, has created openings for terrorists to infiltrate through porous borders.
“The gap created by misgovernance is being filled by the blood of our martyrs,” he said, adding that better governance in Punjab and Sindh has significantly reduced terrorist incidents there compared to KP.
Recalling the aftermath of the Army Public School (APS) tragedy, the DG ISPR said that Pakistan’s political leadership had developed a National Action Plan (NAP) through national consensus to combat terrorism. However, he lamented that the revised NAP is not being implemented in its true spirit.
He emphasized the need to strengthen the judicial system to ensure swift punishment for terrorists, adding that no major terrorist has been convicted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to date.
“You often ask why terrorism hasn’t ended,” he said. “In 2014 and again in 2021, it was decided that the police and CTD would be strengthened, but that commitment was not fulfilled.”
The DG ISPR issued a stern warning to individuals or groups supporting militants: “Any person or group facilitating terrorists, whether due to compulsion or personal benefit, has three options — surrender the terrorists to the state, cooperate with institutions in eliminating them, or face state action as their facilitators.”
He stressed that the status quo is no longer acceptable, and decisive measures would be taken against anyone undermining national security.
Lt Gen Chaudhry reaffirmed the Pakistan Army’s unwavering dedication to protecting citizens and ensuring peace. “The Pakistan Army is taking every essential measure to safeguard the lives and property of the people, and there should be no doubt about our commitment,” he said.
He called upon the public and political leadership to stand united, rejecting divisive narratives that weaken the fight against extremism. “Together, we can ensure that terrorism is defeated once and for all,” he concluded.
