Cross-border terrorism to be crushed with full might of state, CDF Munir says to graduating NDU batch

Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir reiterated on Wednesday that cross-border terrorism would be crushed with full force and those providing sanctuary and facilitation to militancy would be completely dismantled.

The remarks came during CDF Munir's visit to the National Defence University (NDU) in Islamabad, where he addressed the graduating officers of the National Security and War Course comprising participants from all services, the military's media wing said in a statement.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), CDF Munir addressed the country's security situation and "reiterated that terrorism emanating from across the borders will be crushed with full might of the state". "The armed forces, with the support of the nation, will ensure that terrorist sanctuaries of these proxies along with their facilitators are completely dismantled," he added.

CDF Munir remarked that the armed forces were "fully cognizant of state-sponsored attempts by hostile intelligence agencies to destabilise Pakistan", adding that the efforts of such proxies and networks, "who operate under the tutelage of hostile intelligence agencies are futile and will not be allowed to undermine Pakistan’s internal security and economic prosperity".

He highlighted the evolving character of warfare and underscored the centrality of strategic clarity and institutional professionalism in navigating complex strategic issues.

The statement further added that the field marshal also highlighted that the military was recalibrating its employment and development strategies in line with the evolved character of warfare. "The field marshal remarked that wars are not won through media rhetoric or political sloganeering but through faith, unity and discipline," the statement said.

He also praised the role of institutions such as the NDU in "nurturing future military-civil leadership capable of mitigating hybrid, conventional and sub-conventional threats with foresight, confidence and resolve".

Read More: 11 soldiers martyred, 14 terrorists killed in army convoy attack in Balochistan's Bela-Winder

CDF Munir concluded by expressing "full confidence in the professionalism, morale and operational readiness of the battle-hardened armed forces of Pakistan and urged the graduating officers to dutifully adhere to the values of integrity, selfless service and unwavering commitment to the nation".

Earlier, during a press briefing, Director General ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated that India, along with hostile elements, was involved in terrorism inside Pakistan and could not tolerate the country’s stability and progress.

“They are using the territories under the control of this illegitimate Afghan Taliban regime as a base of operation. And the majority of the people, once we engaged them, they turned out to be Afghans,” he said.

He also referred to the recent terrorist attack on a Rangers camp in Karachi, saying there were four attackers, three of whom were Afghans.

“The whole planning, the whole equipping, everything was done from Afghanistan,” he added.

The DG ISPR said there was a scheme, mastermind, intent, logistics and operational sequence behind recent terrorist activities in Balochistan.

“The facilitation is being provided by the Afghan Taliban regime. They are providing manpower. Because they have a problem with Pakistan's dignity and development,” he said.

He added that such elements had a problem with the stability of the people of Pakistan and did not want Balochistan to prosper because, according to him, “Balochistan was Pakistan's life, pride and glory.”

The DG ISPR said the armed forces, under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir, had absolute clarity on the threat and were acting under the political guidance of the government.

“We will take on each and every terrorist, their facilitator, those who harbour them, those who furnish them, those who provide them basis, wherever they are, without any distinction. Don't expect any sort of rationality and proportionality from us,” he vowed.

Pakistan’s allegations against Afghanistan, India of supporting terrorism

Pakistan has repeatedly pointed to an Afghanistan–India nexus behind terrorism in the country.

In November 2024, DG ISPR had issued a warning that the Afghan regime was a threat not just to Pakistan but to the entire region and the world, citing the abandonment of $7.2 billion worth of American military equipment during the US withdrawal.

Chaudhry reiterated that the Afghan regime was harbouring “Non-State Actors” who posed a threat to various countries in the region, noting the Taliban’s failure to establish an inclusive state and government post-2021. He stressed that Pakistan's issue was with the Afghan Taliban regime, not the Afghan people.

Read More: Afghan regime poses threat to region, world: DG ISPR

After the conflict with India in May 2025, CDF Munir had said that Pakistan would never be coerced, and that all inimical designs to derail the country's counterterrorism efforts would be “comprehensively defeated”.

He had said Pakistan’s military remained prepared to respond across the full spectrum of conflict. He particularly criticised India’s growing tendency to resort to unprovoked military aggression, cautioning that strategic stability in South Asia was increasingly fragile and hinged on justice, especially in Kashmir.

In 2023, a UN report also revealed that the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had established a new base in K-P in mid-2023. The report shed light on close ties not only between the TTP and the Afghan Taliban but also with anti-Pakistani groups and al Qaeda.

Read This: The breeding ground for terror

The report further revealed that some Taliban members had also joined the TTP, perceiving it as a religious obligation to provide support.

Interlocutors reported that TTP members and their families received regular aid packages from the Taliban.

Importantly, the UN report noted a significant increase in Afghan nationals in the TTP ranks. This supported Pakistan’s stance that a growing number of Afghan nationals were involved in suicide attacks in the country.