Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said on Friday that terrorist outfits were being provided “sanctuaries, support, and are allowed unrestrained activities on Afghan territory”.
Key takeaways:
Number of terrorists killed in 2024 highest in last 5 years
Pakistan has reservations on sanctuaries provided to terrorists on Afghan soil
May 9 not a case of military but public
Step-wise technical, legal actions being taken to protect digital borders
25 ceasefire violations on LoC by India
Wanted ‘Baloch terrorists’ eliminated, 14 joined national mainstream
Provincial government, politicians need to resolve Kurram issue
The press conference took place amid heightened security concerns, with a sharp uptick in the number of attacks targeting security forces and other law enforcement agencies, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Attacks have increased in the country ever since the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — which the state refers to as Fitna al Khawarij — broke a fragile ceasefire agreement with the government in 2022.
Islamabad has consistently voiced concerns that the TTP uses Afghan soil to launch attacks in Pakistan, asking the Afghanistan government to rein in the group. Kabul denies the allegations. Owing to the issue, Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan have lately turned tumultuous, marked by frequent border skirmishes.
This was the fifth media briefing by the ISPR spokesperson this year.
During the press conference, which was held in Rawalpindi, the DG ISPR addressed a range of issues, including counterterrorism efforts, Pakistan’s grievances with Afghanistan regarding the handling of the TTP, ceasefire violations by India, and the May 9 riots, among other matters of national importance.
“All evidence related to terrorism can be traced back to the safe havens enjoyed by terrorists in Afghanistan,” Gen Chaudhry said.
“The army chief has a clear and straight-forward stance on this: that Pakistan has reservations on banned organisations sanctuaries, support, and unrestrained activities on Afghan territory,” he asserted.
“Pakistan will leave no stone unturned to eliminate the terrorist networks and keep our citizens safe.”
