He says he doesn’t conduct covert operations; Pakistan never targets civilians; Highlights the threat posed by American-made weapons
Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry addressing students of Jinnah University for Women in Karachi on June 17. Photo: ISPR video screenshot
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan’s military on Tuesday vehemently rejected Kabul’s allegations that Islamabad carried out airstrikes on Afghan territory, insisting that Islamabad was not carrying out covert cross-border operations or targeting civilians.
Speaking to reporters in Rawalpindi, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the accusations leveled by the Afghan Taliban, saying Pakistan had “bombarded” Khost and carried out strikes in Kunar and Paktika, were “baseless and factually incorrect”.
“Every time we carry out an operation, we announce it openly. In October, when we struck in Afghanistan, we informed everyone,” he said.
“Pakistan never targets civilians. Our problem is not the Afghan people but terrorism. Blood and trade cannot continue together, it cannot happen that we face attacks and continue to carry on as usual.”
Earlier, the Afghan regime’s spokesperson had claimed that Pakistan had carried out airstrikes in three provinces, killing civilians.
These claims and counter-claims come against a backdrop of tense relations between Pakistan and the Taliban regime. Pakistan said its patience was finally running out as Kabul failed to rein in terrorist groups, including the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Regarding border management, the DG ISPR said, the Army and the Border Corps were effectively securing the border. He recalled conversations held in Doha and Istanbul during which Afghan interlocutors had sometimes threatened to let “6,000 TTP terrorists enter Pakistan”. He accused Afghan authorities and activists of promoting anti-Pakistan rhetoric, including talk of a so-called “Greater Pashtunistan,” and warned that senior Afghan officials themselves had issued statements signaling their intention to attack Pakistan.
The DG ISPR highlighted the growing threat posed by US-made weapons left behind after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“US weapons were recovered even during the Mianwali terror attack,” he said. “These missiles and weapons have become a threat to the entire world.”
He said the militants were using American weapons and bulletproof vehicles purchased with narcotics money, and that the weapons had been used in 29 terrorist incidents in Pakistan.
Giving details of counter-terrorism actions, Lt Gen Chaudhry said 67,000 operations had been carried out since January, 1,387 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and 3,485 in Balochistan. While Balochistan remained the most active front, Punjab and KP also saw sustained action.
These operations resulted in the deaths of 210 militants, but resulted in heavy losses for Pakistan.
“This year, 607 members of the security forces have been martyred,” he said. “In the month of November alone, 4,910 operations were conducted in which 57 Army and FC soldiers embraced martyrdom, including 22 from the Army.”
Civilian casualties included 14 people, while 11 of the martyrs belonged to the Frontier Corps.
DG ISPR said Pakistan had tightened border controls, thereby reducing smuggling even for those who previously held permits. He noted that the army and the Balochistan government had significantly reduced diesel smuggling from Iran, reducing it by Rs20.2 billion.
“Ending smuggling is primarily the responsibility of the provincial government, but we fully support it,” he added. Reiterating Islamabad’s resolve, he said Pakistan would continue to fight terrorism with national unity.
“The war against terrorism must be won by the Pakistani army and people. Whatever the nature of this war, Pakistan will prevail.”
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar revealed that the suicide bomber who attacked Islamabad District Courts in Sector G-11 on November 11 was an Afghan national. He said the attack was planned in Afghanistan under the supervision of TTP chief Noor Wali Mehsud.
Addressing a press conference, Tarar said the suicide bomber had been identified as Usman Shinwari, a resident of Nangarhar, Afghanistan.
According to the minister, the militants had planned major attacks in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, but the suicide bomber failed to reach any high security zone and targeted the first available location on the outskirts of the city.
He said that within 48 hours, the Intelligence Bureau and Counter Terrorism Department arrested four suspects involved in the conspiracy: Sajidullah alias Sheena, Kamran Khan, Muhammad Zali and Shah Munir.
A purported confessional statement by Sajidullah alias Sheena – said the senior official – was also shown during the briefing.
Tarar said Sajidullah joined the Afghan Taliban in 2015 and received training in several camps in Afghanistan. He would have carried the suicide bomber and the suicide vest.
The minister claimed that the entire operation was planned in Afghanistan by TTP Emir Noor Wali Mehsud, acting through his commander Dadullah, who was also present in Afghanistan.
