ISLAMABAD: Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, stated that there is no room for negotiations with terrorists. He said they must surrender their weapons before the state or “we will eliminate them.”
Addressing a press conference, the DG ISPR said that terrorists have now realized that no leniency will be shown toward them. He emphasized that they must either lay down their arms in accordance with the law or face military action.
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that deliberate efforts are being made to create the impression that the security situation in Balochistan is deteriorating. According to him, specific elements are involved in destabilizing the province, and after the failure of the enemy’s strategy in the “Battle for Truth” (Maarka-e-Haq), attention shifted toward Balochistan.
The DG ISPR stated that many individuals reported as “missing persons” were later found to be involved in terrorist activities in Mastung, Khuzdar, and other areas. He said that many of those killed during security operations were individuals previously listed as missing.
He questioned what common factor exists between Afghanistan and India besides the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry further said that many of the individuals included in lists of missing persons are later killed while fighting. He claimed that if the missing persons’ lists are compared with lists of missing BLA militants, they would largely match.
The DG ISPR said that the figures regarding missing persons frequently change, with claims ranging from 10,000 to 20,000, adding that what he described as propaganda concerning missing persons has also failed.
He revealed that over the past five years, security forces conducted a total of 40,348 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) against terrorism, during which 2,084 terrorists were killed.
According to Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, 31,080 operations were conducted in Balochistan, 7,177 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 2,091 in other parts of Pakistan. He said that in Balochistan, 178 security personnel were martyred, 55 people were abducted, 24 bridges were destroyed, and there were 105 attacks on the police and Levies Force.
The DG ISPR stated that 303 soldiers of the Pakistan Army and 322 civilians have been martyred so far this year in the war against terrorism.
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that 28 bombing incidents occurred in 2026, with most involving Afghan nationals. He claimed that Afghan nationals were involved in the incidents in Tank and Karachi, and alleged that the Afghan Taliban regime has effectively turned terrorism into a business.
The DG ISPR said that Pakistani security forces are pursuing and eliminating terrorists beyond their hideouts. He claimed that because of this pressure, Fitna al-Khawarij, Fitna al-Hindustan, and their handlers based in India are now targeting soft targets, including what he described as incidents involving girls in Balochistan.
He said that the real issue in Balochistan lies with the province’s tribal chiefs (Sardars) and elite class. According to him, these elites do not want poor children to receive an education and seek control over the Levies Force for personal security and private interests.
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry added that there is a class that benefits from maintaining the status quo, where poor children remain uneducated and dependent. He questioned whether those demanding rights are equally aware of their responsibilities.
The DG ISPR alleged that certain tribal leaders are involved in narcotics trafficking and diesel smuggling under the guise of business. He claimed that they seek a share in the province’s development budget and threaten violence if their demands are not met.
He further stated that some tribal chiefs consider the Levies Force their personal force and object to changes that reduce their influence. He argued that the real stakeholders in Balochistan are its people and alleged that certain individuals demand permits to continue illegal businesses.
The DG ISPR asked whether Pakistan is, or should be, a “hard state.” He said that a hard state is one where all affairs are conducted according to the Constitution and the law, stressing that this does not mean the military governs the country. He cited Article 5 of the Constitution, saying it clearly requires loyalty to the state.
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry emphasized that the Constitution and the law apply equally to everyone in Pakistan and that all matters must be handled in accordance with the law.
Responding to a question regarding Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi‘s remarks about creating new administrative units and the failure of the existing governance system, the DG ISPR said it was the minister’s personal opinion and he did not wish to comment on it.
However, he added that good governance is essential for stability and security. He noted that the National Action Plan contains 14 points endorsed by all political parties and questioned why they have not been fully implemented. He said that issues such as narcotics, smuggling, Afghan refugees, and the registration of religious seminaries all depend on effective governance.
He also observed that Pakistan’s population has increased while provincial boundaries have remained unchanged, suggesting that governance reforms require serious consideration. He stressed that the decision on creating new provinces or administrative units belongs to the people, not the military.
Speaking about Kashmir, the DG ISPR said that Kashmir is Pakistan’s “jugular vein,” has always been so, and will remain so. He said future generations in Pakistan would continue to raise the slogan, “Kashmir will become Pakistan,” and asserted that Kashmir belongs to Pakistan.
He also criticized those who refer to Pakistan’s military as an “occupying force.” He pointed out that around 100,000 Kashmiris serve in the Pakistan Armed Forces and said many Pakistani soldiers and officers have sacrificed their lives in connection with Kashmir.
He argued that the specific incident under discussion was not related to the military but to the police in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Referring to Sub-Inspector Naeem Kashmiri, he alleged that the officer was brutally tortured, stating that his intestines were removed while he was still alive.
