Monitoring Desk:
PESHAWAR: Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Friday emphasized that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government should prioritize the safety and governance of its citizens rather than “appealing to Afghanistan” for security support.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the Peshawar Corps Headquarters, the DG ISPR underscored that the security lapses and administrative failures in the province were being paid for by the sacrifices of Pakistan’s security personnel.
“Appeasement of terrorists and their facilitators has never been and will never be the state’s policy,” Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif asserted. He added that Pakistan’s state institutions remain unaffected by political narratives or distortions.
He stressed that no single individual could be allowed to jeopardize national security or public safety, saying, “The people of Pakistan and its institutions will not be held hostage to anyone who bears primary responsibility for bringing back terrorism to KP.”
Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif expressed hope that the provincial leadership would focus on good governance and public welfare. “Instead of pleading with Afghanistan for protection, it’s time to secure the province and its people,” he remarked.
Paying Tribute to KP’s Martyrs
At the start of the press conference, the DG ISPR paid tribute, on behalf of the Pakistan Armed Forces, to the “brave sons of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” who laid down their lives in the fight against terrorism. He said the purpose of the briefing was to give a comprehensive overview of the current security situation in KP.
Security Overview: Two Decades of Challenges
Highlighting the long struggle against terrorism, Lt Gen Sharif said Pakistan—particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—had faced the menace for over two decades.
He revealed that during 2024, security forces conducted 14,535 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across KP, in which 769 terrorists, including 58 of Afghan origin, were eliminated. Meanwhile, 272 Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps personnel, 140 police officers, and 165 civilians embraced martyrdom.
In 2025 (up to September 15), a total of 10,115 operations were carried out, resulting in the killing of 970 terrorists, while 311 Pakistan Army personnel were martyred in the line of duty.
Terror incidents began to rise again from 2021 onwards, he said, but added that the security response had also intensified, resulting in more terrorists being neutralized in subsequent years.
From APS to Present: Lessons and Setbacks
Reflecting on the 2014 Army Public School (APS) tragedy, the DG ISPR said that the incident had marked a turning point, leading to a comprehensive counter-terror strategy that brought Pakistan closer to peace.
“Unfortunately, despite reaching the brink of lasting peace, terrorists and their facilitators were later given space, governance weakened, and public welfare was neglected. Misleading narratives were built deliberately — and today, the people of KP are paying the price with their blood,” he lamented.
Causes Behind the Surge in Militancy
Lt Gen Sharif identified several factors that contributed to the recent resurgence in terrorism:
- Incomplete implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP).
- Politicization of counter-terrorism efforts.
- Indian involvement through Afghan soil to destabilize Pakistan.
- Access to advanced weaponry by terrorist groups operating in Afghanistan.
- The terrorism-crime nexus, sustained by “local and political patronage.”
He reminded that after the APS attack, all political parties and governments—both provincial and federal—had agreed to implement the NAP fully. However, he pointed out that in 2021, certain provisions were removed, weakening the overall framework.
