Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has raised concerns over extremist groups exploiting advanced technology, including drones, to conduct terrorist activities from civilian locations. Addressing a press briefing, he clarified Pakistan’s stance on the issue and highlighted the methods used by these groups to manipulate narratives and shield themselves.
Lieutenant General Chaudhry stated that extremist elements, referred to as Khawarij, have begun using armed quadcopters for surveillance and terrorist operations. “A narrative is being deliberately propagated that the Pakistan Army uses drones indiscriminately, but these groups, supported externally, are the ones deploying armed quadcopters,” he said.
He explained that these extremists operate from mosques, public spaces, and residential areas, using civilians including children and women—as shields to carry out attacks. “They have a specialized wing that relies on armed quadcopters to conduct terrorist acts while hiding among innocent people,” the DG ISPR said.
Emphasizing Pakistan’s approach, Lieutenant General Chaudhry clarified: “The Pakistan Army targets only terrorists and their facilitators. Civilian lives are never the focus of our operations.” He stressed that security operations are conducted with precision, intelligence guidance, and a strict focus on neutralizing threats while minimizing collateral damage.
The DG ISPR highlighted that the misuse of drones by terrorist groups poses a significant challenge to national security. However, Pakistan’s security forces remain vigilant, continually adapting to emerging tactics to ensure that terrorist networks are dismantled while protecting civilians.
“The use of technology by extremists to conduct terrorism is alarming,” Lieutenant General Chaudhry concluded. “But Pakistan’s security forces are committed to targeting only those responsible for violence and keeping the public safe.”
