Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry. Photo: File
Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry strongly rejected Kabul’s allegations regarding Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory, saying Pakistan does not conduct covert cross-border operations and always announces its actions publicly.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Lieutenant General Chaudhry said the accusations made by the Afghan Taliban regime were baseless.
Kabul had claimed that Pakistan had “bombarded” Khost province and carried out strikes in Kunar and Paktika – an accusation it categorically rejected.
Responding to a question, he stressed that Pakistan operates in a transparent manner. “Whenever we carry out an operation, we announce it openly. In October, when we struck in Afghanistan, we informed everyone about it,” he said, adding that Pakistan never targets civilians. “Our problem is not with the Afghan people but with terrorism. Blood and trade cannot continue together – this cannot happen if we face attacks and continue to trade.”
He said the committees overseeing counter-terrorism efforts were active and included military representatives, adding that the Balochistan government was fully implementing the National Action Plan while fighting networks seeking to destabilize the economy.
On border security, he said the army and the Border Corps managed the border and referred to discussions held in Doha and Istanbul where Afghan interlocutors had at times threatened to allow “6,000 TTP terrorists to enter Pakistan”.
Lt. Gen. Chaudhry accused Afghan authorities and activists of promoting hostile rhetoric, including talk of a “Greater Pashtunistan.” He warned that senior Afghan officials themselves had issued statements signaling their intention to attack Pakistan.
He also highlighted the increased danger posed by American-made weapons left in Afghanistan. “American weapons were recovered even during the Mianwali terrorist attack. These missiles and weapons have become a threat to the whole world,” he said, adding that the militants used American weapons and bulletproof vehicles purchased with narcotics money. Such weapons, he said, appeared in 29 terrorist incidents in Pakistan.
The DG ISPR outlined extensive counter-terrorism operations across the country, saying that since January, 67,000 operations have been carried out, including 1,387 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and 3,485 in Balochistan. Most of the operations, he explained, were taking place in Balochistan, but Punjab and KP also remained active fronts. These operations resulted in the deaths of 210 militants, while Pakistan itself suffered heavy losses.
“This year, 607 security forces personnel were martyred. In November alone, 4,910 operations were carried out, during which 57 Army and FC soldiers embraced martyrdom, including 22 from the Army,” he said, adding that civilian casualties included 14 people, while 11 martyrs belonged to the Border Corps.
He said Pakistan had tightened its borders, limiting smuggling even for those with permits. The army and the Balochistan government, he added, have significantly reduced diesel smuggling from Iran, reducing it by Rs 20.2 billion. “Ending border smuggling is primarily the responsibility of the provincial government, but we fully support it. »
Commenting on the prosecution of former ISI chief General (R) Faiz Hameed, Lt. Gen. Chaudhry called for restraint. “Court-martial is a legal and judicial process. There should be no speculation. Once the process is completed, we will notify you.”
Reiterating Pakistan’s resolve, he said the country must – and will win – the fight against terrorism. “The war against terrorism must be won by the Pakistani army and people. Whatever the nature of this war, Pakistan will prevail.”
