DG ISPR accuses KP government of facilitating terrorism

ISLAMABAD: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has accused the former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government of being among the facilitators of terrorism, alleging that its lack of capacity and indifference created obstacles to counterterrorism efforts in the province.

In an interview with international news agency Reuters on October 30, 2026, the military spokesperson outlined Pakistan’s strategy against terrorism, intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the security challenges facing Balochistan.

He said Pakistan had a clear strategy to combat terrorism, which included eliminating not only terrorist networks operating inside the country but also their facilitators.

According to the DG ISPR, some aspects of the fight against terrorism required attention within Pakistan. He argued that opposition to counterterrorism operations did not represent the general public in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but came from individuals allegedly maintaining links with militant groups.

He also claimed that a facilitator who had been creating obstacles to counterterrorism efforts in the province was no longer there.

Intelligence-Based Operations Remain Central

Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said security forces were not conducting a large-scale military operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Instead, they were carrying out intelligence-based operations to target militant networks and prevent terrorist activities.

He revealed that security forces conduct approximately 200 intelligence-based operations every day across the country, with police, the military and other law enforcement agencies working together.

Addressing the regional dimension of terrorism, the military spokesperson said Pakistan did not attribute all its internal security challenges solely to Afghanistan. However, he described Afghanistan as a major base for terrorist activities targeting Pakistan, alleging that militant leadership, training camps and launch facilities were operating there.

He also highlighted Pakistan’s extensive experience in counterterrorism, saying the country had spent nearly two decades confronting militant violence.

The DG ISPR acknowledged that people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had suffered heavily because of terrorism. He praised the province’s residents, particularly the Pashtun community, for their courage, traditions and resilience.

He said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa deserved peace and stability, adding that their demand for a secure environment was legitimate.

Political Change and Constitutional Process

Asked about the removal of the provincial government, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry described the matter as a political question that politicians were better placed to address.

However, he maintained that the change of government had taken place in accordance with constitutional and legal procedures.

His remarks come amid continuing political debate over security policies, counterterrorism operations and the provincial administration’s role in addressing militancy.

Balochistan Development Projects Under Threat

Turning to the security situation in Balochistan, the DG ISPR accused militant groups of attempting to undermine development projects and economic activities in the province.

He said terrorist groups were targeting not only mining operations but also LPG transportation trucks, educational institutions and teachers.

According to him, attacks on bridges and railway infrastructure were also aimed at disrupting economic activities and limiting opportunities for local communities.

He argued that projects creating employment and economic opportunities for ordinary residents had increasingly become targets of militant violence.

The military spokesperson also alleged that influential elements within Balochistan’s elite wanted to maintain their influence by keeping ordinary people economically weak and educationally disadvantaged.

He described what he called an alliance between militant groups and sections of the provincial elite, arguing that both benefited from keeping Balochistan underdeveloped and sustaining a narrative of deprivation.

The allegations highlight the wider challenges facing Pakistan’s security and development efforts, particularly in regions affected by persistent militant violence.

Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry’s comments underline the military’s position that counterterrorism requires coordinated action by security institutions, political authorities and local communities, alongside sustained economic development.

The central challenge, according to his remarks, is to prevent militant violence from undermining both public security and the economic opportunities needed for lasting stability.