In a powerful press conference held at Peshawar Corps Headquarters, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry delivered a strong message to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government, urging it to focus on protecting its people instead of “begging Afghanistan” for security support.
The DG ISPR stated that governance gaps in KP are being paid for by the blood of Pakistan’s security personnel, emphasizing that appeasement of terrorists and their facilitators can never be a state policy. He said the state and its institutions remain firm despite “political distortions” and warned that Pakistan’s security would not be left at the mercy of any single individual’s political ambitions.
“We hope the government will focus on governance and the people it is duty-bound to protect. Instead of begging Afghanistan for security, KP must protect its province and its citizens,” Lt Gen Chaudhry said.
He revealed that in 2024, over 14,535 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were conducted in KP, eliminating 769 terrorists including 58 Afghan nationals. Similarly, 10,115 operations have been conducted so far in 2025, with nearly 970 terrorists killed and 311 Pakistan Army personnel martyred.
DG ISPR also criticized the failure to fully implement the National Action Plan (NAP), politicization of the terrorism issue, and the “terror-crime nexus” with political backing as major factors behind the resurgence of militancy. He called on all stakeholders to unite and act decisively against terrorism rather than seeking dialogue with groups responsible for atrocities such as the 2014 Army Public School (APS) attack.
He further clarified Pakistan’s stance towards Afghanistan, saying, “We only ask the Afghan government not to allow its soil to be used for terrorism against Pakistan.” He reaffirmed that Pakistan would continue taking all necessary measures to defend its citizens and preserve national integrity.
In response to questions about former Lt Gen Faiz Hameed’s court martial, the DG ISPR said the legal process is ongoing and will reach a fair conclusion, reiterating that the Pakistan Army’s accountability system is based on facts and evidence, not allegations.
For verified details and official coverage, visit Dawn News, Geo News, and ARY News.
