Pakistan Army raises concerns over Imran Khan’s statements

The Pakistan Army on Friday delivered a stark warning over what it described as threats to the country’s national security stemming from the political statements of former prime minister Imran Khan.

In a press briefing at GHQ Rawalpindi, Director General ISPR, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, refrained from naming Khan directly at times but referred to him multiple times as a “mentally unstable” individual and called him a potential national threat.

He said the person appears to operate under the belief that “if I am not present, nothing else matters,” underscoring the army’s deep concerns over his political narrative.

In the latest episode of On My Radar, Kamran Khan highlighted the significance of the army’s warning, noting that this marked the second time in two months that the military has publicly addressed what it calls Imran Khan and PTI’s anti-establishment rhetoric, framing it as a direct challenge to Pakistan’s national security.

During the press briefing, Lt Gen Chaudhry said that Indian media had adopted PTI’s narrative against the Pakistani military, showing a video that suggested the party’s social media accounts were being operated from Afghanistan and India.

He warned that attempts to incite the public against the army would not be tolerated, stating that such agendas could only serve foreign interests that seek to weaken Pakistan’s forces in their fight against terrorists and external threats.

The DG ISPR also referred to what he called a recurring pattern in PTI’s statements - initially urging dialogue with foreign actors and avoiding operations, followed by criticism of state and military policies on Afghanistan.

He highlighted the example of comments advocating against military action while, at the same time, militants attacked cadet colleges, saying, “They attempt to martyr our children, yet the narrative preaches dialogue and discourages operations.”

Responding to questions, Lt Gen Chaudhry said there was no need to overreact to those “barking from outside.” He added that the military has already presented its position openly, and any decision regarding PTI’s political status rests with the state, not the institution. “The army cannot impose a ban; that is a decision for the state, and institutions follow that mandate,” he said.

While the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government has not yet made any official decision on PTI’s political activities, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar and Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar announced on Thursday that visits to PTI founder Imran Khan in Adiala Jail would be halted, ensuring that “the daily spectacle outside the jail” would no longer continue.