Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated that Pakistan’s military operations target terrorists, not the Afghan population, emphasizing that the country has no conflict with the Afghan nation.
He said Pakistan has so far targeted 81 terrorist hideouts and accused India of using Afghanistan as a base for terrorism.
In an exclusive interview with a private TV channel, Lt GenSharif highlighted that Pakistan is fighting terrorism originating from Afghanistan. He cited multiple incidents, including the Terlai Mosque blast, attacks on police in Bajaur and Bannu, and other cross-border militant activities, noting that perpetrators are trained in Afghanistan.
Addressing civilian casualties during military strikes, he called related reports “propaganda,” insisting that the military strikes only target terrorists. He further said that recent drone strikes and ammunition explosions were visible to entire towns, clarifying the operations publicly.
Lt Gen Sharif also claimed that Afghan Taliban territory is now controlled by terrorist groups, including 22 different organizations. He accused them of harboring militants, facilitating training, and receiving drones supplied by India. He added that groups like Al-Qaeda maintain links with the Afghan Taliban, and Afghanistan continues to allow terrorism to flourish.
He stressed that Pakistan has consistently proposed dialogue, requesting that terrorists be handed over and militant attacks stop before negotiations can proceed. He reiterated that Afghan civilians are not enemies; rather, they are trapped by oppressive militant factions.
Lt Gen Sharif concluded by condemning the use of Pakistani posts for terrorist attacks, noting that militants hide in government buildings, and asserting that Taliban forces do not allow stable living conditions, moving frequently to avoid accountability.
