Terrorism politicized; National Action Plan not fully implemented: DG ISPR
The DG ISPR has said that national institutions will not be influenced by any political gimmickry, asserting that the recent wave of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) stems from a nexus of political and criminal elements.
The DG ISPR stated that the network behind terrorism enjoys both local and political backing. He said that attempts have been made to weaken counterterrorism operations through misleading narratives. Under a calculated plan, space was provided to terrorists and their facilitators, while the issue of terrorism was politicised to confuse the nation.
The DG ISPR reaffirmed the resolve to uproot terrorism completely, saying that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are bravely standing against this menace. He added that instead of improving governance and law and order in KP, ambiguity has been created, and the gap in governance is now being filled by the blood of martyrs.
He questioned why terrorist incidents are not happening in Sindh and Punjab, while 70 percent of all such incidents in the past three months have occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The reason, he emphasised, is the political and criminal nexus fuelling terrorism in the province.
The DG ISPR said that the increase in terrorism is due to the incomplete implementation of the National Action Plan, adding that the previous government had even deleted certain key points from it.
He revealed that in 2024, more than 14,500 operations were conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while over 10,000 operations have already been carried out in 2025 so far. Following the APC Peshawar incident, coordinated counterterrorism measures were launched, and the number of foreign militants killed this year is the highest in the past decade.
He further said that India is using Afghanistan as a base to sponsor terrorism against Pakistan. There are safe havens for terrorists in Afghanistan, and the flow of American weapons into the hands of these groups has also fuelled terrorism. He noted that new narratives are being constructed around the repatriation of Afghan refugees.
The DG ISPR said that those who facilitate foreign militants face three options: they can hand the foreigners over to the state, they can join the state in rooting out this malignancy, or, if they choose to stand with the extremists, they must be prepared for the state’s action.
The DG ISPR warned that the security of the public cannot be left at the mercy of any other country, particularly Afghanistan, and said that extremists and their facilitators, regardless of the positions they hold, will be squeezed until there is no safe space for them; the old status quo will no longer be tolerated.
He urged the Afghan government to prevent its territory from becoming a launchpad for terrorists, warning that if smuggling continues, it will bring terrorists and explosive materials along with it.
The DG ISPR clarified that Afghanistan is being used as a base camp for terrorism directed against Pakistan, and therefore Pakistan will take whatever measures are necessary to protect the lives and property of its people. He added that Saudi Arabia and other countries have also attempted to persuade Afghanistan to act.
He further stated that every terror group has some branch or presence inside Afghanistan and compared terrorist elements to snakes, saying no one who raises a snake can ever truly trust it.
The DG ISPR questioned, "Who is saying not to take action against terrorists and to hold talks, and who is it that says that Kabul will guarantee Pakistan's security? Although that person held talks, you have seen his solution, so it is confirmed that terrorists have no religion or faith."
The DG ISPR said that efforts are underway to jointly strengthen national institutions and that work on this front is continuing.
Dawn
He urged that the Pakistan Army be kept away from rhetoric and political manoeuvring, warning that the military should not be dragged into degrading politics or politicised narratives.
The DG ISPR clarified that the army’s process of self-accountability does not operate on mere allegations and that delays in holding field general court-martials are of no concern so long as the demands of justice are met.
He noted that the trial of a former DG ISI is currently underway and described the matter as extremely sensitive, governed by a legal procedure; he criticised those who use microphones to craft narratives morning and night rather than allowing due process to run its course.
from Latest Pakistan News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/IT5QlwE
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