PESHAWAR: Reading PTI leadership the riot act, Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry Friday cautioned that bringing an ‘anti-state’ leadership in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa won’t be allowed.
Speaking at a press conference at the Corps Headquarters here, he said there was a political and criminal nexus behind terrorism and unrest in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“Our security forces are filling the governance vacuum in the province with their blood. No individual can be permitted to compromise the state or the lives, property, and honour of the Pakistani people for their personal interests,” he said.
“If anyone believes their politics is greater than the state, we do not accept that. Leadership is being brought into the province that is against the state — that cannot be allowed. All politicians are respectable, but no one’s politics is above the state. Not every problem can be solved through negotiations and talks; if everything were resolved by talks, wars would never happen. If matters were settled only by negotiation, the Battle of Badr (Ghazwa-e-Badr) would never have taken place, for example. The decision to uproot terrorism was taken jointly by politicians and tribal elders. Whoever it may be, whatever position they hold — if they are facilitating or assisting terrorists, they will be squeezed. We are taking (and will continue to take) the necessary steps to protect the lives and property of the people of Pakistan; there should be no doubt about that,” he said.
He dismissed suggestions for talks with militant outfits, saying facilitators have three choices: hand over the terrorist to the state, join state institutions in anti-terrorism operations, and bring this cancer to an end; if they refuse both, be prepared for state action against those who facilitate Khwarij.
General Sharif said the purpose of visiting KP was to sit among the brave people and pay tribute to the province’s people in the war against terrorism.
He said in 2024, more than 14,535 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were conducted in KP, while 10,115 had already been carried out in 2025, averaging around 40 operations per day.
He said 769 terrorists were killed in 2024, while 917 had been eliminated so far this year.
“In 2024, 577 Pakistanis were martyred, including 140 police personnel, 272 soldiers and FC officials, and 165 civilians,” he noted.
“In 2025, 516 lives have been lost — 311 military personnel, 73 police officials, and 132 civilians.”
Gen Sharif said the number of terrorists killed this year was the highest in a decade, adding that the increasing intensity of operations showed “the resilience of Pakistan’s law-enforcement apparatus”.
Highlighting the judicial and legal lacunas and shortcomings in prosecuting the terrorists, he said as of August 2025, not a single terrorist had been convicted, with 34 cases pending, and the number of Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) cases less than three years old stands at 2,878, whereas the number of pending cases more than three years old was 1,706.
It was decided in 2014 and 2021 that the CTD had to be strengthened to root out terrorism in KP, he said.
“Currently, the operational strength of the KP CTD is 3,200 [...]. Is it enough?”
He revealed that from January to August, there were 33,389 illegal weapon cases and 10,087 narcotics cases in KP. Arrests were made in thousands, yet conviction rates remained minimal.
“If we truly wish to eradicate terrorism, we must strengthen CTD and judicial systems,” he emphasised.
He explained what factors had caused terrorism to persist: terrorists and their facilitators were given space as part of a deliberate plan.
The ISPR director general said a misleading narrative was the reason for terrorism in Pakistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He hoped that, for the protection of the people of KP, those responsible in the province would protect themselves rather than securing security assistance from Afghanistan.
He said the Pakistan Army was determined to eliminate terrorism.
“We must all come together to uproot this cancer,” the ISPR spokesman said and added that after the 2014 Army Public School attack, political and military leadership drafted a joint National Action Plan; one reason for the rise in terrorism has been the incomplete implementation of that plan.
He said sanctuaries for terrorists exist in Afghanistan, and terrorists receive backing from India. India’s use of Afghanistan as a base for terrorism is also a major reason. After the US withdrawal, many weapons were recovered from terrorists who were killed in operations. He said Afghanistan was being used against Pakistan, and there was evidence and proof of that.
“We have raised this issue on every forum and have engaged in dialogue — we have also informed the United States and are in contact with them on this matter. Measures necessary for protecting the lives and property of the Pakistani people will be taken and will continue to be taken,” he said.
General Sharif said status quo will no longer be acceptable: a person or group facilitating Khwarij for whatever compulsion or benefit has three choices — hand over the terrorist to the state; join state institutions in anti-terror operations and eliminate this cancer together; if they refuse both, be prepared for state action against those facilitating Khwarij.
In response to a question, the ISPR spokesman said Afghanistan was a brotherly Islamic country, and Pakistan’s sole demand was that it should not allow itself to be a haven for terrorists.
“Our ministers have also gone there and told them that the facilitators of terrorists are present there,” he said.
He reiterated that necessary measures to protect the lives and property of the people of Pakistan were being taken and will continue to be taken; and there should be no doubt about that.
To a question, he said the former director general of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) was facing a court-martial.
He said accountability within the army was based on facts, not allegations.
“The army’s relationship with the state is official, not personal or political. If someone tries to turn that relationship into a personal one, it is wrong. The decisions are made by the state. The army only provides input and opinion and does not involve itself in anyone’s politics.”
He said the former ISI boss was being tried under the army’s system of self-accountability.
“Anyone charged is given a full opportunity to defend themselves. The army is not concerned about any delay in the process,” he added.