Only state can announce jihad: DG ISPR

The military's chief spokesperson, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has said only the state is authorized to announce jihad against an aggressor and not any individual or group.

Lt Gen Chaudhry, who has been on an official visit to Karachi, expressed these views on Sunday during his meetings with people from different walks of life.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) director general, Pakistani citizens belonging to different religions enjoy equal rights under the Constitution. He said unity could only be ensured through peace and equality.

"Divisions based on race or language are condemnable. All citizens of Pakistan are equal. No one can defeat us, if we stand united," he added.

The military spokesperson was talking with reference to the recent conflict between Pakistan and India.

The two neighbouring nations last month engaged in a brief but dangerous confrontation, weeks after a militant attack in the Pahalgam area of the Indian occupied Kashmir.

During the four days of active conflict initiated by India, both the countries launched missile strikes into each other's territory while also carrying out drone and cyberattacks. The conflict came to an abrupt end after US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire, apparently on the request of New Delhi.

The DG ISPR stated that India supports terror groups in Pakistan and that the Pakistan Army is responding to this threat by using a modern war strategy.

Pakistan has been accusing India of fomenting terrorism on its soil, particularly in Balochistan, which has been facing a low key insurgency for the last two decades.

During his visit, the ISPR chief was accorded a warm welcome in the country's economic hub.