PTI resisting counter-terror efforts at every forum, seeking help from Afghanistan: ISPR DG

• KP sees highest terrorist incidents in 2025: ISPR DG.
• Security forces conduct 75,175 IBOs in 2025: ISPR DG.
• Army says terror outfits being nurtured in Afghanistan.
  

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry came down hard on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, blaming it for the rising terrorism.

"The PTI government is seeking help from Afghanistan [...] the PTI is also resisting counter-terrorism efforts at every forum," the military's spokesperson said during a press briefing in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.

Lt Gen Chaudhry detailed that nearly 71% of terrorist incidents occurred in 2025 reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and stressed that the primary reason for this is a "politically conducive environment and the flourishing political-criminal-terror-nexus which is flourishing there".

An annual report from the Centre for Research and Security Studies also mentions that KP experienced the most significant surge, where the "fatalities rose from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025" — more than 40% year-on-year increase in the province.

The military's spokesperson also criticised KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi's position on talks and dismissed calls for Afghan security guarantees, while questioning opposition to counterterrorism operations.

The PTI builds a false narrative while sitting in assemblies, he said, questioning whether the army was sent to KP "with shovels to extract minerals". Calling KP chief minister's remarks against operation "ridiculous", he said that the PTI-backed chief minister's narrative had "come out clearly".

"If you do not want a military operation, then what should be done — sit at the feet of khawarij?" the ISPR DG said. "Should khawarij leader Noor Wali Mehsud be made the province’s chief minister and allegiance pledged to him?" he asked.

He maintained that seeking assurances from a group accused of harbouring terrorists was illogical, reiterating that counterterrorism required firm state action rather than political ambiguity.

Referring to governance issues, he said illegal mining was taking place in KP and linked the proliferation of illegal weapons directly to terrorism.

India-Afghan nexus

Addressing the hostilities with Afghanistan, the ISPR chief said that the Afghan Taliban regime had attacked Pakistani border posts, following which, "whatever was needed was done, and a hard message was given".

"Afghanistan has become the centre of terrorist operations in the region," he said while explaining the factors behind terrorism. The ISPR chief said that the Afghan Taliban regime has found a "new hero" in the form of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He said that the nexus between Fitna Al-Khawarij and India became fully exposed in 2025, posing a serious threat to regional peace and security. He said that if Afghanistan and India wish to confront Pakistan, they are welcome to do so, adding that, "We will fulfill their desire."

Reiterating the resolve to curb the menace of terrorism, he said: "We have to win the war against terrorism at all costs". "We have to win this war with strength." "In the last three months, we have closed the borders. There are many signs here for those who see and understand."

Noting that Islamabad targeted terrorists at the Afghan border in October 2025, and "dozens of Afghan posts were eliminated within hours". "We targeted the TTP, not TTA," said Lt Gen Chaudhry.

Recalling the Doha agreement, the 2020 US-Taliban peace deal, he recalled that the Afghan Taliban had assured that terrorism would be eradicated from the Afghan soil. However, he lamented, the neighbouring country remains a stronghold of Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan.

All terrorist organisations are based in Afghanistan, and are being nurtured there, he said. Lt Gen Chaudhry said a false narrative is being propagated that the Pakistan Army uses drones during anti-terror operations.

He said that it was Fitna Al-Khawarij, TTP, which started using armed quadcopters, adding that their patron, India, provides them with full support.

The ISPR chief said a special wing of the militants operates armed quadcopters, which are used for terrorist activities. He said that terrorists use mosques, public places, and residential homes to carry out attacks and use women and children as human shields to conduct their activities.

Lt Gen Chaudhry clarified that the Pakistan Army uses drones primarily for surveillance purposes.

Counterterrorism efforts in 2025

Providing details of counterterrorism efforts in 2025, the ISPR chief said that law enforcement agencies carried out 75,175 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across the country.

Giving a breakdown, he said 14,658 IBOs were conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 58,778 in Balochistan, while 1,739 operations took place in the rest of the country.

Lt Gen Chaudhry said that 5,397 terrorism incidents were reported nationwide during the last year. Of these, 3,811 incidents, he said, occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 1,557 in Balochistan, and 29 incidents were reported in other parts of the country.

He said that 2,597 terrorists were killed during counterterror operations last year. While providing details of 10 major terror attacks across the country, he said that civilians and soft targets had been deliberately targeted, and Afghan militants were involved in all attacks.

"We have evidence of the presence of all terrorists [...] where they are and where they operate," he said. During the press briefing, video confessions of arrested terrorists were also played.

Lt Gen Chaudhry said 21 civilians were martyred in the Jaffar Express attack, adding that the incident would never fade from the memory of Pakistanis. He further stated that a civilian bus was also targeted in Noshki, while an attack on the Frontier Corps headquarters in Quetta resulted in the martyrdom of eight civilians.

"The attack on the FC headquarters in Quetta was carried out by Afghans," the ISPR DG said, adding that a similar attack had taken place on the FC headquarters in Peshawar in November.

Referring to an attempted attack on Cadet College Wana in November, the ISPR DG said Afghan terrorists had tried to replicate the 2014 APS Peshawar attack.

"This is a war of the nation, a war of every single child," he said, rejecting a narrative portraying the fight against terrorism as solely the military's responsibility. "A narrative is built, suggesting this is the army's war. This is not true," Lt Gen Chaudhry added.

'No distinctions among terrorists'

The military’s spokesperson stressed that Pakistan's fight against terrorism was a collective national war, warning that militancy thrived through illegal arms and drugs.

Referring to Afghan refugee settlements in Pakistan, he said that camps in Punjab and Balochistan had been cleared, while the majority of the camps in KP were still present.

On the strategy to counter terrorism, Lt Gen Chaudhry reiterated that Pakistan made no distinctions among terrorists, declaring the fight against militancy a national integrity war in which the state and truth would ultimately prevail.

"There is no colour or shade of a terrorist for us, and we have no sympathy for any terrorist," he said, adding that the armed forces took pride in the war against terrorism.

The ISPR DG described Pakistan's counterterrorism campaign as unparalleled anywhere in the world. "We are on the side of truth, and truth has always prevailed."

The army's spokesperson said that Pakistan had repeatedly engaged the Afghan Taliban regime between 2021 and 2025, saying Islamabad always wanted Kabul to thrive in peace.

Regarding the closure of the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, he stated that Islamabad was already reaping benefits from shutting down the crossings, adding that Pakistan’s economy was not dependent on Afghanistan.

The spokesman reiterated that no individual or political party was above Pakistan, saying all political parties and provinces were equal for the military if they stood within the constitutional framework.

'Social media being used for terrorism'

The military’s spokesperson warned that social media was increasingly being misused for terrorism and criminal activity, stressing that enforcement of laws was essential to protect society and its citizens.

"Social media is being used for terrorism and for its promotion as well. Laws are meant to ensure the protection of society," the ISPR DG said.

The DG ISPR stressed no one would want their daughter to be harassed on social media or people to be defrauded through online platforms.

"Have social media platforms opened offices in Pakistan?" he asked. "Do these platforms understand that Pakistani laws apply to them?"

He emphasised that it was essential for Pakistan to ensure the full implementation of the Constitution within its geographical borders.