DG ISPR: State Narrative Is Clear; Civil–Military Leadership United Against Terrorism

Rawalpindi: DG ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated that the political and military leadership is on one page; this is the state’s narrative. He said the Khawarij have no connection with Islam. He said one individual brought terrorism into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the public cannot be left to such a person. He said a politically conducive environment is provided for terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said terrorism in Pakistan happens under India’s patronage, and the base of “Fitna al-Khawarij” and “Fitna Hindustan” is in Afghanistan. He said the Afghan Taliban have found a new hero in the form of Modi. He said in “Maarka-e-Haq,” India was humiliated. He said the war against terrorism will be won through force. He said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister’s narrative has also come openly to the fore. He said there is a constitutional and legal आदेश (order) to protect Pakistan and its territory; “they” sit in the assembly and create a false narrative. He asked whether the army went there to extract minerals with shovels. He said “they” want to become the favorites of Fitna al-Khawarij. He asked that if a military operation is not to be conducted, then does that mean sitting at the feet of the Khawarij? He asked whether Khawarij leader Noor Wali Mehsud should be made the provincial chief minister, whether allegiance should be pledged to him, and whether “Hibatullah” would decide what would happen in Charsadda. He said there is consensus among all political parties on the National Action Plan. He said the Pakistani taxpayers’ lawful money is being spent on this war, while dollars are going to the Afghan Taliban, who are making money agreements with India.

Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday, he said the war against terrorism must be won in every case, and that the only purpose of the press conference was to comprehensively cover terrorist actions in 2025. He said the previous year was historic and results-oriented in the war against terrorism, and that in 2025 an extraordinary number of counterterrorism actions were carried out. He said in 2025, complete harmony was achieved between the state of Pakistan and the public on terrorism, and terrorists have no connection with Pakistan or Balochistan.

He said what must be seen is what measures are being taken against terrorism; measures were taken last year, and the war against terrorism is the war of the entire nation. He said Afghanistan is the center of terrorist actions in the region. He said that in 2025, law-enforcement agencies carried out 75,175 intelligence-based operations, meaning 206 were carried out daily on average last year. He said 14,658 operations were conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 58,778 in Balochistan, and 1,739 in the rest of the country. He said there were 5,397 terrorism incidents across the country last year, and 3,811 of them were in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone. He said there were 1,557 incidents in Balochistan in 2025, and 29 incidents in the rest of the country. He said 2,597 terrorists were killed in 2025. He said the reason the highest number of incidents occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is that terrorists have a favorable environment available there, and that a politically conducive environment is provided for terrorism in KP. He said the state is committed to eliminating terrorism, the state’s position is clear, and Khawarij have no link to Islam.

He said terrorism began to surface in 2021; 193 terrorists were eliminated that year; a change occurred in Afghanistan in 2021; and the Doha agreement took place. He said the Afghan group made three promises in Doha, including ending terrorism from Afghan soil and ensuring women’s education in Afghanistan. He said the base of Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna Hindustan is in Afghanistan; all terrorist organizations are in Afghanistan and are being nurtured. He said the world has praised Pakistan’s actions against terrorism and that counterterror operations have been ongoing in Pakistan for more than two decades; the war against terrorism is the nation’s war.

He said there is agreement among all political parties on the National Action Plan, and implementing it is necessary to eliminate terrorism. He said regarding Khawarij, God’s command is “kill them wherever you find them,” and it is absolutely clear that the war against terrorism must be won.

He said the Afghan Taliban have no link with the US and allied forces’ withdrawal; the Afghan Taliban prepare the TTP in their organizational style; they sponsor terrorism to run a war economy; and terrorism in Pakistan happens under India’s patronage. He said the US left behind $7.2 billion worth of advanced weapons in Afghanistan; the Taliban are establishing their control there, and settlement begins here; clarity is provided that these are Khawarij; and when action is taken against terrorists, it is said to talk to them. He said people ask that 5,397 is a very large number; yes, it is a very large number, and such operations are conducted daily. He said some things in life are not only necessary to fight for but also legitimate, and forces are engaging terrorists everywhere.

He said “Maarka-e-Haq” happened and clashes occurred on the Pak–Afghan border in October; India was humiliated and taught a lesson in Maarka-e-Haq; India fueled terrorism after Maarka-e-Haq; and India targeted children and women in the so-called “Sindoor operation.” He said the world saw India being humiliated in Maarka-e-Haq; India has no right to target any Pakistani citizen; no one gave India the right to damage any Pakistani citizen or infrastructure; and the stain of Operation Sindoor has still not faded from India.

He said attacks were carried out on terrorists at the Pak–Afghan border; the Afghan Taliban regime attacked Pakistani posts; then what was necessary was done and a hard message was delivered; and in the last three months the border has been closed. He said in October 2025, attacks were carried out on terrorists on the Pak–Afghan border and dozens of Afghan posts were wiped out within hours; and the absence of an inclusive government in Afghanistan promoted terrorism.

He said there is evidence about who the terrorists are and who is providing space to whom; Afghanistan has leaders and training camps of many terrorist organizations. He said if one looks at the ten major incidents, who is involved—“all are Afghans.” He said terrorists attacked civilians and soft targets; in the Jaffar Express attack 21 civilians were martyred; a civilian bus was attacked in Noshki; and these attacks were carried out by Afghans. He said Afghan terrorists tried to repeat APS Peshawar in APS Wana.

He said the Jaffar Express incident will never leave Pakistanis’ minds; there was an attack on FC Headquarters Quetta and all were Afghans, in which 8 civilians were martyred; an attack took place on FC Headquarters Peshawar in November; this is the nation’s war and every child’s war; a narrative is created calling it only the army’s war. He said in the context of Afghan linkage, papers of many terrorists are found; terrorists are indoctrinated and sent to Pakistan for terrorism.

He said those who create the narrative that “why aren’t terrorists being killed at the fenced border”—they are being killed; 71 terrorists were killed in April; their formations come like long lines of ants; 12 terrorists were killed in Hasan Khel; Khawarij Amjad was also killed while crossing the border; and terrorists are eliminated wherever they are seen at the border.

He said a narrative is created that Pakistan’s army uses drones; the Khawarij have started using armed quadcopters; Khawarij sit in mosques and use quadcopters for terrorism; and their patron-in-chief, India, provides them with everything. He said Khawarij use children and women as shields; the army targets only terrorists and facilitators; a quadcopter was used in Sambaza because there was no population there; and drones/quads are used for surveillance.

He said the army does not cause collateral damage; the Corps Commander Peshawar has gone to dozens of places and goes daily because there is nothing between “us and the public”; flood relief activities and road clearing are underway; and the clarity the Pakistani nation got this year was not present before.

He said leadership and the public are clear about Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna Hindustan; this clarity existed in 2023 and exists today, and no one can shake this narrative. He said Khawarij are خارج از اسلام (outside the fold of Islam). He said civilian and military leadership are on the same page regarding eliminating terrorism, and the public across Pakistan also has clarity.

He said this year “Paigham-e-Pakistan” was reaffirmed; religious scholars and spiritual leaders also have clarity. He said another clarity emerged about the nexus between India and Fitna al-Khawarij. He questioned where the Taliban’s so-called foreign minister was during clashes with terrorists, and said their religion tells them to lie at the feet of Indians; the Afghan Taliban have found a new hero in Modi.

He said the Afghan Taliban–Khawarij–India nexus became openly visible in 2025; further details also emerged; and Afghanistan and India may come if they wish—“their desire can be fulfilled.” He said Pakistan has long said Afghanistan has become a hub of terrorism, and now the world is saying the same. He said Japan, China, and the US are saying this; Iran and Europe have started expelling Afghans; the US also says they must be expelled because they are involved in terrorism; and more than a dozen terrorist organizations are growing under the Afghan Taliban. He said the UN says 20 terrorist organizations are growing in Afghanistan. He said the Pakistani taxpayers’ lawful money is being spent on this war, while dollars are going to the Afghan Taliban, who are making monetary agreements with India.

He said there is a constitutional and legal order to protect Pakistan and its territory; “they” sit in the assembly and create a false narrative; he asked whether the army went there to extract minerals with shovels; he said “they” want to be favorites of Fitna al-Khawarij; “they” say Afghanistan should help and Kabul should provide security guarantees; and he questioned what kind of “policy of reassurance” it is to ask Afghanistan for help.

He said the KP Chief Minister’s narrative is now openly clear; if there is no military operation, then does it mean sitting at the feet of the Khawarij. He said there is consensus among all political parties on the National Action Plan. He said illegal mining is happening in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the PTI government is seeking help from Afghanistan.

He said the Balochistan government is working quickly on the National Action Plan; 8,601 schools in Balochistan have been made functional; the KP government opposed counterterrorism operations in the province; a specific party in KP is against the war on terrorism; and, instead of arguments, there is blame. He asked what is to be done if there is no military operation—sit at terrorists’ feet; make Noor Wali Mehsud the chief minister; pledge allegiance; let Hibatullah decide what happens in Charsadda; and that they are seeking security from an occupying group that has gathered terrorists from around the world.

He said the national war against terrorism must be fought together and won; illegal weapons are directly linked to terrorism; a refugee camp in Punjab has been cleared; camps in Balochistan have also been cleared; camps in KP still remain. He said PTI leadership is opposing counterterror operations on every forum. He said Iranian diesel was used to fund terrorism, but now oil is being imported and taxed.

He said narcotics and drugs have a deep link with terrorism; in their view, a terrorist has no “color or shade”; there is no sympathy for any terrorist; they are on الحق (truth) and truth must prevail; and they are proud to fight the war against terrorism.