NATIONAL NEWS
RAWALPINDI: The Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant-General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has made it clear that ensuring Pakistan’s security is the sole responsibility of its armed forces — not the Afghan government.
Speaking to senior journalists, Gen. Chaudhry emphasized that Pakistan has never celebrated the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan and continues to carry out counter-terrorism operations against outfits such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA).
Rejecting speculation about any formal understanding with the United States regarding drone operations, the military spokesperson said that no official complaint had been received from Kabul over drone strikes.
“The armed forces are the guarantors of Pakistan’s security, and that assurance cannot be outsourced to anyone else,” he remarked, adding that Pakistan’s fight against terrorism remains active, particularly against those targeting mosques and religious institutions.
Gen. Chaudhry further explained that during the recent Istanbul talks, Pakistan clearly conveyed to Afghan authorities that their territory must not serve as a sanctuary for militants. He urged Kabul to take action against groups using Afghan soil to launch attacks and to hand over individuals who fled there during Pakistani security operations.
Highlighting the link between terrorism and organized crime, the ISPR chief revealed that groups like the TTP are involved in opium cultivation, earning between Rs1.8 million to Rs2.5 million per acre — funds that feed into a broader regional network involving warlords and elements within the Afghan Taliban.
Discussing ongoing security measures, he said that while Pakistan has not launched any large-scale military offensives recently, intelligence-based operations continue across several regions. Nearly 200 personnel, he added, have been martyred in these efforts.
On administrative matters, Gen. Chaudhry clarified that decisions about new military posts or the potential imposition of federal rule lie within the purview of the civilian government, not the army’s command.
Read more: https://nayakashmir.com/premier-shehbaz-seeks-ppp-support-for-27th-amendment-bilawal/
