Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has warned that Afghanistan has emerged as a base of operations for terrorist groups in the region. Speaking at a press briefing, he outlined Pakistan’s ongoing fight against terrorism and highlighted the regional and domestic challenges posed by extremist networks.
Lieutenant General Chaudhry stated that Pakistan has been waging the war on terrorism for over two decades, emphasizing that a strong national consensus exists between the state and the public. “Terrorists have no connection to Islam, and Afghanistan has effectively become a hub for planning and directing terrorist operations in the region,” he said.
The DG ISPR noted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has experienced the highest number of terrorist incidents in Pakistan due to a political environment conducive to extremism. He stressed that between 2021 and 2025, the province has witnessed a disproportionate number of attacks, fueled by criminal-terrorist alliances that have allowed terrorism to flourish.
In the past year, 27 suicide attacks were reported across the country, 16 of which occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including two carried out by women. “The political and criminal environment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has made it favorable for terrorist activity,” the DG ISPR explained.
Lieutenant General Chaudhry reiterated that Pakistan remains steadfast in its counterterrorism efforts. “Our security forces, in close coordination with intelligence agencies, continue to target terrorists and dismantle networks while protecting civilians,” he said. He emphasized that the fight against terrorism is a national struggle, guided by the principle that extremists have no place in society and pose a threat to peace both within Pakistan and across the region.
