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

Nearly 71% of terrorist incidents occurred in 2025 reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, says army’s spokesperson

Afghan Taliban regime has found a “new hero” in the form of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

RAWALPINDI: 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.

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. Staff Report