DG ISPR reaffirms firm response to any external threat

Discusses Pak-Afghan tensions, says Pakistan taking effective measures against terrorism

Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry reaffirmed the Pakistan Army’s commitment to the nation’s defence, warning that any external aggression would be met with a strong and decisive response.

During an interactive session with teachers and students from various universities in Abbottabad, Lt Gen Chaudhry discussed Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions and the security situation in the country. He said Pakistan has taken effective measures against terrorism.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has been on the frontlines of Pakistan’s counterterrorism campaign for two decades. When terrorist incidents spiked again in 2021, security forces launched a fiirm and effective response, killing more Khawarij in recent months than in the previous nine years combined.

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A growing terror-crime nexus has allowed lawlessness to thrive, particularly in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan — key battlegrounds in Pakistan’s fight against terrorism.

The state uses the term Fitna al-Hindustan for India-backed terrorist groups operating in Balochistan, while Fitna al-Khawarij refers to militants affiliated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Both regions have faced sustained terrorist attacks, prompting ongoing security operations against these groups.

On the other hand, tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have sharply escalated following deadly cross-border clashes. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Afghan Taliban forces, allegedly backed by “Indian-sponsored elements,” launched an unprovoked attack on Pakistani border posts on the night of October 11–12.

In retaliation, Pakistan’s security forces carried out precision strikes, killing over 200 Afghan fighters and destroying multiple Taliban posts and terrorist camps. The confrontation left 23 Pakistani soldiers martyred. Islamabad has accused Kabul of allowing its soil to be used for terrorism, while the Taliban administration has denied the allegations, claiming it acted in self-defence.

Teachers and students paid tribute to the martyrs and veterans of the armed forces. Hazara University Vice Chancellor Dr Ikramullah Khan called the Pakistan Army “a true symbol of love for the homeland,” saying the nation stands shoulder to shoulder with its soldiers.

Participants noted that hostile elements are trying to mislead the youth, stressing the need to provide them with accurate information.

Students said they were proud of institutions like the Pakistan Army that guide and support young people. “Today we learned the truth about the false rumours being spread against the Pakistan Army on social media,” one student said.

Earlier this month, at a press conference in Peshawar, Lt Gen Chaudhry blamed weak governance and poor implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) for the recent surge in terrorism, particularly in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), where “around 70 per cent of the country’s terrorist acts take place.”

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Lt Gen Chaudhry revisited the revised 2021 NAP points—calling for intolerance toward militancy, curbs on terror financing and propaganda, capacity building for counterterrorism departments, regulation of seminaries, and criminal justice reforms.

Formulated after the Army Public School attack with cross-party consensus, NAP’s 14 points, he said, are not being properly enforced. “All parties agreed on this—but is it being implemented?” he asked.

Without naming any political party, the DG ISPR attributed K-P’s worsening security situation to internal lapses. “The provincial government has fallen into the terror-crime nexus,” he said, citing narcotics smuggling and non-custom-paid vehicle trade as factors enabling lawlessness.

“When the suggestion was made to seal the Pak-Afghan border, some in power opposed it to protect their criminal activities,” he added. “Terrorism exists today because we are not following the National Action Plan.”