Pakistan military spokesperson warns Afghanistan against 'prioritizing' terrorists over neighbor

The Pakistan military’s spokesperson said on Friday that Afghanistan was a brotherly Islamic country whose sovereignty Pakistan fully respected. However, he warned it to not prioritize terrorists over Pakistan.

“If the Fitna al-Khawarij, whose hands are stained with the blood of Pakistanis, receive help from across the border, then the status quo between the two countries will not be maintained,” Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said.

The press briefing, the fifth by the ISPR this year, follows an alarming increase in attacks on security forces and law enforcement agencies, especially in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

Addressing the media, Gen Chaudhry stressed Pakistan’s demand for Afghanistan to act against hideouts of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

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“All evidence of terrorism leads to safe havens provided to terrorists on Afghan soil. The army chief’s stance is clear: banned groups in Pakistan are receiving sanctuary, support, and freedom to operate in Afghanistan,” he stated.

He emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to counterterrorism efforts, noting progress in the Western Border Management Regime. “From September 2023 to date, 815,000 illegal Afghan citizens have returned to Afghanistan,” he said, highlighting Pakistan’s decades-long role in fostering stability in the region and hosting Afghan refugees.

Counterterrorism successes

General Chaudhry revealed that Pakistan's security forces have conducted 59,775 operations this year, successfully neutralizing 925 terrorists, including several high-value targets. He emphasized that this represents the highest number of terrorists eliminated in the past five years.

The DG ISPR also highlighted significant progress in Balochistan, where he claimed external involvement in terrorist activities has been definitively uncovered.

He paid tribute to the 383 officers and soldiers who embraced martyrdom during these operations. "This war against terrorism will continue until the last khariji (outcast) is eliminated," he vowed.

Highlighting key achievements, General Chaudhry revealed that 73 high-value terrorists, including top leaders of banned groups, were eliminated. Moreover, 27 Afghan militants were neutralized. He also emphasized significant progress in clearing tribal districts of minefields, with 72% of the area now demined.

He credited nationwide crackdowns against smuggling, the drug trade, electricity theft, and hoarding with reducing illegal activities. "The implementation of the One Document Regime has significantly curtailed illegal border crossings and smuggling," he added.

The DG ISPR also acknowledged that previous decisions to negotiate with militants had contributed to the current resurgence in terrorism. He lamented that these misguided choices are now being undone through the daily sacrifices of Pakistani soldiers.

May 9 case about 'the people'

Additionally, the spokesman defended the military trials of 85 civilians accused of attacking army installations during nationwide protests that turned violent last year.

The incidents, sparked by the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan, included assaults on the Jinnah House in Lahore, the Army headquarters in Rawalpindi, and multiple other sites.

Gen Chaudhry compared the prosecutions to riot-related trials in Western democracies while dismissing mounting international criticism as politically motivated propaganda.

His statements came a day after military courts sentenced 60 civilians, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan's nephew Hassaan Niazi, to prison terms ranging from two to 10 years. These followed 25 similar convictions earlier this week, marking the completion of military trials for the May 9, 2023, violent protests that erupted after Khan's first arrest.

"The May 9 case is not just about the armed forces but about the people," the military spokesman said at a press conference in Rawalpindi. "If any group, armed faction, or violent group tries to impose their will and ideology... where are we taking our society?"

The military spokesman particularly targeted critics of the trials, accusing them of hypocrisy. "They were themselves big advocates of military courts until recently," he said, suggesting they now spread "toxic propaganda" after being unable to "defend the May 9 incident."

He warned that prosecutions would continue "until the main characters of May 9 are dealt with according to justice." Drawing parallels with other countries, he argued: "In racial riots in Britain, both adults and minors were quickly punished, in America those involved in Capitol Hill were swiftly punished. Those involved in riots in France were also quickly punished, he said. "So why can't this happen in Pakistan?"

Defending the trials' legitimacy, the spokesman emphasized that military courts have "existed in Pakistan for decades" and claimed endorsement from the International Court of Justice.

This assertion comes amid growing international concern, with the United States calling the trials "deeply concerning" and lacking "judicial independence," while the European Union and United Kingdom have warned they violate Pakistan's obligations under international law.

The military spokesman urged anti-terrorism courts handling related cases, including those against senior political leaders, to reach their "logical conclusion."

In a significant portion of his briefing, the spokesman addressed what he described as a coordinated disinformation campaign against state institutions. He claimed there exists "billions of rupees worth of illegal spectrum" in Pakistan, including fake news networks with political backing, accusing certain elements of "poisoning youth with toxic propaganda for politics."

"Not only will it be eliminated and all laws will be made, but punishments will also be given," he warned, suggesting upcoming action against alleged disinformation networks.

Military's role in politics

The spokesman addressed several questions about the military's role in politics, maintaining that armed forces keep "official and professional relationships with every government" while warning against giving these relationships "political color."

Notably, he responded to questions about former intelligence chief General Faiz Hameed, stating that "any officer who prioritizes politics over the state will have to answer for it" through the military's "self-accountability system," suggesting possible action against former officers involved in politics.

Kurram crisis

He also addressed the volatile situation in Kurram district, characterizing it as "an old and complex" issue involving tribal and land disputes rather than sectarian conflict. "Politicians have to solve the Kurram issue," he insisted, warning against mischaracterizing local disputes as sectarian conflicts.

However, he also pointed to governance failures as a root cause of the tensions in the district, citing misplaced priorities, weak legal frameworks, and administrative neglect. He clarified solving the crisis would require political leadership to make the right decisions and law enforcement agencies to ensure their implementation.

'Accountability within the military'

Addressing internal accountability, DG ISPR clarified that anyone within the armed forces found pursuing personal interests or advancing specific agendas faces strict scrutiny. He confirmed that Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Faiz Hameed is being provided all legal rights and assistance.

“The Pakistan Army is a national institution that does not represent any political party or ideology,” he asserted, reiterating that the military maintains professional and official relations with all governments without political bias. He warned against politicizing the army’s role.

In a more conciliatory note, the spokesman welcomed recent efforts at political dialogue among Pakistan's fractious political parties. "It's a welcome development that politicians are sitting together to resolve their differences rather than through chaotic and violent politics," he said, though this came amid warnings about continuing prosecutions of May 9 suspects.

D-Chowk protest and propaganda

Responding to a question about the military's role and the fatalities during former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party’s violent protest in Islamabad, the DG ISPR referred to a detailed statement issued by the Ministry of Interior on December 1.

The statement clarified that the military was not deployed to control the violent mob but was restricted to duties within the Red Zone. It also highlighted that armed guards accompanying PTI leaders and some individuals within the crowd were carrying firearms.

Gen Chaudhry noted that the presence of weapons among the protesters was extensively documented in both media and social media coverage. He stated that misinformation was deliberately spread to divert attention from the unrest. He reiterated the military’s neutral stance, emphasizing that it neither supports nor opposes any political party or ideology.

He further alleged that the events of November 26 were part of a conspiracy rooted in “political terrorism,” where false claims of mass worker martyrdom were widely circulated. According to him, the orchestrators believed they could promote any narrative with impunity, disregarding accountability.