Pakistan vows to dismantle ‘India-backed’ elements fueling unrest in KP, Balochistan

Pakistan’s top military commanders on Thursday vowed to “dismantle and decimate” elements threatening the country’s stability -- particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, where terror attacks have surged in recent months.

The resolve came during the 270th Corps Commanders’ Conference (CCC), chaired by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

The CCC is a high-level military forum, regularly held under the army chief’s leadership, bringing together senior generals who head various corps formations. The conference reviews the national security landscape, operational readiness, and internal and external threats, shaping Pakistan’s strategic military posture.

Thursday’s meeting was the first since the Pakistan-India tensions that flared in late April, escalating into aerial and border skirmishes before a U.S.-brokered ceasefire took effect on May 10.

According to military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the forum conducted a detailed assessment of the threat posed by “India-backed terrorist proxies” operating in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

India accused of ‘covert aggression and proxy war’

During the meeting, the military leadership said India was escalating covert operations following its "military failure in the wake of the Pahalgam incident" in Indian-administered Kashmir. Despite portraying itself as a victim of terrorism, India was described in the statement as "a perpetrator of terrorism and the epicenter of regional instability," accused of increasingly relying on non-state actors to pursue a destabilization agenda in Pakistan.

The forum declared that no one could coerce Pakistan through the use or threat of force, affirming that the country would take “all necessary measures to safeguard its vital interests.”

The military leadership resolved that Pakistan would never allow externally sponsored terrorism to disrupt its peace. The armed forces – “working in close coordination with intelligence and law enforcement agencies” -- would relentlessly target all terrorist proxies and their facilitators.

"These hostile elements, trained and financed to spread fear and chaos, will be dismantled and decimated with the full force of national will and institutional strength," the statement asserted.

The ISPR said the forum also reviewed the regional strategic environment, with particular attention to the security situation along the Line of Control (LoC), the Working Boundary, and the Eastern Border, in the context of the recent India-Pakistan escalation.

The commanders expressed deep concern over continuing human rights violations in Indian-administered Kashmir, condemning them as drivers of organic resistance and recurring cycles of violence. The forum emphasized the urgent need for international attention and intervention to prevent further deterioration of peace and stability in South Asia.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s support for the Kashmiri people, the military reiterated its full diplomatic, political, moral, and humanitarian backing for their legitimate struggle for the right to self-determination.

The army chief commended the high morale, operational readiness, and professionalism of all ranks. He also lauded the steadfast support of the Pakistani nation and emphasized reliance on divine guidance in steering national efforts.

Army chief praises national unity

The COAS reaffirmed the Pakistan Army’s critical role in safeguarding national frontiers and maintaining internal stability.

He expressed deep gratitude for the unwavering support of the Pakistani people, saying: “The people of Pakistan are our greatest strength. We remain committed to their trust and expectations in our shared struggle against any foreign aggression, terrorism, and extremism.”

The military also strongly condemned the recent “heinous terrorist attack” in Khuzdar, Balochistan, which claimed the lives of four innocent children and two adults.

The attack, the statement said, was carried out by “India-sponsored proxies,” and deliberately targeted non-combatants, especially children -- an act denounced as a grave violation of humanitarian and international norms.

The ISPR noted that the conference included a comprehensive review of the current internal and external security landscape, with special focus on the successful culmination of Operation Bunyān-un-Marsūs, hailed as a defining phase of “Marka-e-Haq”.

‘Information warriors’ hailed for countering propaganda

In a special acknowledgment, the forum praised Pakistan’s media and “information warriors” for standing firm alongside the state in countering India’s propaganda campaign. Their efforts in exposing fake news, resisting war hysteria, and accurately presenting facts were credited with reinforcing public trust and effectively combating disinformation, the statement added.

The commanders also “wholeheartedly recognized the spirit and dynamic contributions of the Pakistani youth,” commending their passion and patriotism for reinvigorating the national spirit and amplifying Pakistan’s narrative during a time of heightened tension.