PESHAWAR – The Pakistan Army has issued a clear warning that political ambitions must never be placed above the interests of the state. Addressing a press conference at the Corps Commander House in Peshawar, DG ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that the persistence of extremist violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is tied to a dangerous nexus between politics and crime.
He stressed that “no single individual can be allowed to trade the lives and property of the people of Pakistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for his own ego and interest.” According to BBC Urdu, the army spokesperson underlined that the military is fulfilling its constitutional duty in the province, but the primary responsibility for governance and security rests with the provincial and local administration.
Politics vs. State Security
Lieutenant General Chaudhry’s remarks carried a pointed message for political leaders. “If any party or person thinks that its politics is bigger than the state, then we do not accept it,” he declared. He urged politicians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to focus on their responsibilities rather than engaging in “negative politics, accusations, and facilitating foreign criminal mafias.”
He further emphasized that instead of seeking security guarantees from Afghanistan, provincial leaders must take ownership of protecting their citizens. “We hope that instead of begging for security from Afghanistan, you will protect it yourself, being the responsible persons of this province,” he said.
Rejecting Dialogue with Militants
The DG ISPR categorically dismissed the idea of talks with extremist groups. Responding to a question about whether the newly-appointed Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sohail Afridi, was inclined towards dialogue with the Taliban, he said:
“Who is saying ‘don’t conduct an operation, conduct a dialogue’? The person who is saying that a provincial government that does not stand against the operation cannot be tolerated. It is clear to everyone who is the political figure who is asking for dialogue with terrorists.”
He criticized attempts to confuse the public by suggesting negotiations with those responsible for killing innocent citizens. “The terrorists say that our girls do not have the rights that Islam has given them, and yet some are asking us to talk to them. This is a criminal narrative for which the nation is paying the price.”
Cross-Border Concerns
The press conference also touched on reports of Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul targeting TTP leader Noor Wali Mehsud. Without confirming or denying the strikes, Lieutenant General Chaudhry said:
“What you said about the strike has been noted in the media and social media, and the statement of the Afghan spokesperson has also been noted. Afghanistan is our brotherly neighboring country, and Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees for more than four decades. But we demand that Afghan soil must not be used for terrorism against Pakistan.”
He reiterated that Pakistan has evidence of safe havens for militants inside Afghanistan and warned that “necessary steps to protect the lives and property of the people of Pakistan will continue.”
Why Terrorism Persists
The DG ISPR also outlined five major reasons why terrorism continues to exist in Pakistan:
- Non-implementation of the National Action Plan
- Political maneuvering and misleading the nation on terrorism
- India’s use of Afghan soil as a base
- Safe havens and weapons left behind in Afghanistan after the U.S. withdrawal
- A terror-crime nexus with political backing
He noted that most recent extremist incidents have occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where political confusion has created space for militants.
Sacrifices of Security Forces
Lieutenant General Chaudhry concluded by highlighting the sacrifices made by Pakistan’s security forces. “The Army Chief has clearly said that the officers and men of the Pakistani army, police officers, our institutions, and even our children are filling the governance gap with their blood.”
The press conference underscored the army’s uncompromising stance: foreign terrorists and their facilitators will be dealt with harshly, and no political narrative will be allowed to undermine the state’s security.