ISLAMABAD — In a stern and comprehensive briefing addressing the escalating security landscape along the western frontier, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry delivered a direct message to the Afghan interim administration, asserting that they must make an unequivocal choice between standing with Pakistan or harboring transnational terrorist networks.
The military’s spokesperson emphasized that the ongoing counter-terrorism operations and defensive measures executed by Pakistan are part of a broader, necessary campaign to dismantle the infrastructure used by militant factions—specifically the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (referred to locally as Fitna al-Khawarij)—which continue to utilize Afghan soil as a primary base of operations.
Addressing regional security and transnational proxies
Highlighting the persistent threats emanating from across the border, the DG ISPR detailed how regional stability remains undermined by the presence of multiple militant outfits operating within Afghanistan. He noted that intelligence-based assessments and operational data confirm that attacks targeting security forces and civilians inside Pakistan trace directly back to sanctuaries located in neighboring provinces.
The military leadership made it clear that while Islamabad has repeatedly exercised patience and pursued diplomatic avenues to encourage bilateral cooperation, the continuous tolerance of militant proxies by the interim Kabul authorities leaves Pakistan with no alternative but to take robust, preemptive measures in self-defense.
External sabotage and the regional nexus
The briefing also cast light on the broader geopolitical dimensions fueling instability, with the military pointing to hostile external designs intended to disrupt internal peace in Pakistan. Pointing to an active intelligence nexus operating from unmonitored spaces in the region, the ISPR chief stressed that regional actors seeking to sponsor violence through proxy elements will continue to be met with an unyielding and coordinated national response.
Reiterating the resolve of the state, he underscored that the defense of the country’s borders, the protection of its citizens, and the complete elimination of terrorist networks remain the absolute priority of Pakistan’s armed forces, with national security superseding all other considerations.