Afghan unrest risks revival of terrorist sleeper cells: DG ISPR

RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan military spokesman warned on Saturday there was a threat of the revival of sleeper cells of terrorists, as he elaborated on security risks due to the worsening situation in Afghanistan.

In an interview to a private news channel, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Maj-Gen Babar Iftikhar said the security forces had prepared a lot to cope with post-US withdrawal in Afghanistan. “We made all preparations and placed all security measures keeping in view the associated threats,” he added.

Maj-Gen Iftikhar said Pakistan Army’s regular troops were manning Pak-Afghan Border and all illegal border crossing points had been sealed. He further said the fencing along Pak-Afghan Border had been completed by 90 per cent.

The DG ISPR clarified Pakistan was not a guarantor to the Afghanistan peace process as Afghanistan’s own stakeholders had to decide their future. “Peace in Pakistan is linked with peace in Afghanistan,” he stressed.

Maj-Gen Iftikhar said: “We are meticulously monitoring the regional situation and playing a sincere role in Afghan peace process. We left no stone unturned in peace talks among all stakeholders of the peace process.”

While elaborating on the security risks, he underlined the security threat including the risk of revival of sleeper cells, restoration of terrorist groups in Balochistan that can have nexus with hostile agencies. “We are very clear and identified those agencies. The recent particular events also occurred due to it and indicates the risk,” he added. He emphasised Pakistan had fought a long and nerve testing war against terror and achieved hard earned success. “The border fencing along Pak-Afghan Border is 90 percent completed and it has been expedited along Iran Border. Many forts and security posts have been constructed and proper border management mechanisms have been placed,” he said. The border fencing was also beneficial for Afghanistan’s security, he added.

Commenting on the border security measures, he said the FC capacity had been significantly beefed up whereas to strengthen the law enforcing agencies, local police and levies had been trained under the supervision of Pakistan Army.

The DG ISPR confirmed there had been no organised terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan after the security operations. He noted the fugitive leadership of terrorist groups was based in Afghanistan which was supported by the Indian intelligence agency RAW.

In tribal areas and Balochistan, over 7,000 security operations were conducted since May 1, 2021 in which 42 terrorists were killed and also many soldiers of Pakistan Army got martyred and injured during these operations, he added.

“Pakistan Army is ready to exterminate all threats to national peace and security. We are after them aggressively and they are on the run and in such aggressive pursuit you bear casualties,” he said.

“The world has acknowledged the constructive role of Pakistan in the regional peace and stability,” he said.

India had huge influence in Afghanistan and they used it as the main purpose of its funding was to develop their roots in Afghanistan and destabilise Pakistan, he noted. “We have also presented dossier in November 2020 and gave evidence of Indian terrorism and clandestine designs against Pakistan,” he said.

He further said there were training camps of RAW in Afghanistan that they used to unite all splinter anti-Pakistan groups. “India is the biggest spoiler in the region,” he said.

Intelligence agencies, he said, always operate and they function in grey zones whereas Pakistan’s peace was mainly relying on peace in Afghanistan. “It will be difficult for India to operate against Pakistan in this case,” he added.