ISLAMABAD: India is pursuing state-sponsored terrorism as a deliberate policy to destabilise Pakistan, particularly in the province of Balochistan, through orchestrated plans and support for terrorist groups, Pakistan’s military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said on Wednesday.
In an interview with Al Jazeera TV, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry claimed that New Delhi is orchestrating destabilising activities and supporting terrorist groups to undermine Pakistan’s internal security.
“These nefarious designs of India are a systematic conspiracy to destabilise Pakistan, especially in Balochistan,” he said. He added that India had admitted multiple times to supporting terrorism within Pakistan.
The military spokesperson strongly asserted Pakistan’s stance on Indian state-sponsored terrorism, the threat of extremist group “Khawarij,” and the country’s nuclear capabilities.
Lieutenant General Chaudhry’s remarks came in the wake of a recent bomb attack in the Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that left 16 Pakistani soldiers martyred and over 20 injured. The banned terrorist outfit, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), claimed responsibility for the attack.
India’s involvement in supporting terrorists
“Pakistan firmly believes India is directly involved in supporting and financing such terrorist acts on its soil,” Lieutenant General Chaudhry said.
The military spokesperson explained that the term “Khawarij” refers to armed groups that wage war against the Pakistani state and military.
“The current Fitna al-Khawarij is a continuation of the misguided ideology that has historically led to the killing of Muslims under a false religious narrative,” he said.
Lieutenant General Chaudhry emphasised that the ideology of these terrorist groups stems from centuries-old distortions that have led to violence against Muslims.
He clarified that, in Islam, the authority to declare jihad lies solely with the state, not with individuals, groups, or organisations.
The military spokesperson denounced the Khawarij as having no connection to Islam, humanity, Pakistan, or its traditions.
Referring to “Fitna-e-Hindustan” (The Indian Menace), Lieutenant General Chaudhry said the term denotes terrorists who operate under full Indian patronage, particularly to create unrest in Balochistan.
Lieutenant General Chaudhry further revealed that India’s terror network is led by its National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, and that Indian political leadership has publicly acknowledged its involvement in sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan.
Responsible nuclear state
The military spokesperson added that countries like the US and Canada have also recognised Indian state-sponsored terrorism, calling it a grave threat to global peace.
During the interview, Lieutenant General Chaudhry also condemned Israeli aggression against Iran and reaffirmed Pakistan’s political and diplomatic support for Tehran.
“Pakistan views any aggression against Muslim nations as a serious threat to regional stability,” he said.
“Pakistan stands firmly with Iran in these challenging times,” the military spokesperson maintained.
Responding to a question about Pakistan’s nuclear programme, the military spokesperson strongly asserted that the country’s nuclear assets are fully secure and invulnerable.
“Pakistan is a responsible and declared nuclear power. Our nuclear capability is undefeatable and symbolises national defence strength and regional strategic balance,” Lieutenant General Chaudhry said.
