ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military on Friday rejected a deliberate attempt to portray Balochistan’s security situation as deteriorating, as it unveiled new figures showing the scale of counterterrorism operations carried out across the country this year.
Addressing a press conference on counterterrorism and the country’s security situation, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said there were “deliberate attempts to create the impression that the security situation in Balochistan has deteriorated.”
“There are deliberate attempts to create the impression that the security situation in Balochistan has deteriorated,” he said. “There are deliberate attempts to create the impression that the security situation in Balochistan has deteriorated,” he said.
The military spokesperson also criticised sections of the province’s tribal leadership.
“Some of the elite and Sardars (tribal leaders) in Balochistan do not want children from poor families to progress,” he said.
“We will not talk to you; we will talk to the people of Balochistan.”
Pakistan Counterterrorism Operations
Lt Gen Chaudhry said security forces had carried out 40,348 intelligence-based operations across Pakistan so far this year, killing 2,084 confirmed terrorists.
He said security forces were conducting an average of 194 intelligence-based operations every day.
“So these IBOs are going on every hour.”
DG ISPR says security forces have conducted 40,348 intelligence-based operations so far in 2026, eliminating 2,084 terrorists, with more than 31,000 operations carried out in Balochistan.@OfficialDGISPR
#Pakistan #DGISPR #CounterTerrorism #Security #PakistanTV pic.twitter.com/HJWGVbb1wC— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) July 31, 2026
According to the military spokesperson, the operations have resulted in an average of 10 terrorists being killed each day.
“This comes to an average of 10 terrorists being killed every day, which is the highest ratio ever,” he said.
Comparing the figures with last year, he said security forces killed 2,597 terrorists in 2025, while 2,084 had been killed so far in 2026.
DG ISPR says Balochistan’s per capita budget exceeds Rs75,000, the highest among all provinces; adds that the government formed a commission to investigate missing persons cases, which has received 2,933 cases from Balochistan, while 178 civilians were martyred in… pic.twitter.com/9VUm7lzfIu
— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) July 31, 2026
The military spokesperson ruled out further negotiations with terrorists, saying there was no room left for talks.
“Either you surrender, or we will fight you,” he said.
Terrorism Statistics
The ISPR director general said Pakistan had recorded 3,145 terrorism incidents this year, including 1,971 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 1,148 in Balochistan and 26 in other parts of the country.
He added that more than 31,000 of the intelligence-based operations were conducted in Balochistan.
Casualties
Lt Gen Chaudhry said 819 Pakistanis had embraced martyrdom in terrorism-related incidents this year, averaging four deaths per day.
DG ISPR says most suicide attackers in 2026 were Afghan nationals, adding that negative propaganda is being spread against Balochistan and emphasizing that Article 5 states that loyalty to state is basic duty of every citizen.@OfficialDGISPR#Pakistan #DGISPR… pic.twitter.com/GQlkJXZBk8
— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) July 31, 2026
The figure included 303 army personnel, 194 members of the police and civil armed forces, and 322 civilians.
He added that 28 suicide attacks had been recorded across the country this year.
“The majority of which were carried out by Afghan nationals.”
Also Read: Pakistan Security Forces Kill Four Indian-Backed Terrorists in Balochistan
He also said Afghan nationals were responsible for the recent suicide attacks in Tank district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and in Karachi.
Ongoing Security Campaign
The military briefing came as Pakistan’s security forces continue nationwide counterterrorism operations under the Azm-e-Istehkam campaign, aimed at combating militant groups and improving the country’s security situation.
The DG ISPR added this also had to do with the “agenda of the terrorist-supporting Taliban regime” and the clarity that the state of Pakistan had.
“These terrorists and their sponsors have come to understand that there is no space for appeasement or any talks with them […] They know that the state is telling them very clearly that either you submit to the state’s will in accordance with law and the Constitution, otherwise we are here and fighting,” he said.
Moreover, he added, this also had to do with the proactive nature of the operations. “These [terrorism] incidents also rise because when we get proactive […] there will be more engagements.”
He also said that 300 Indian websites were being operated for terrorism in Balochistan, more than 1,000 social media accounts were being used for the purpose and “hostile diaspora” was also involved in propaganda related to terrorism.
Rise in Terrorist Incidents
Responding to a question about the rise in terrorist incidents, the DG ISPR said: “You must ask why incidents are increasing. It has to do with the agenda of terrorists affiliated with the Taliban and with the clarity that Pakistan has. These terrorists have come to understand that there is no room for appeasement now.”
“Once they know that the state is very clearly telling them, ‘Submit in front of the state, otherwise we are here, we are standing here and fighting,’ it changes the dynamic,” he said.
The DG ISPR added that the increase in incidents was also linked to more proactive intelligence-based operations.
“Once we get more proactive and engage, once we are doing more effective intelligence-based operations, there will be engagement and incidents increase,” he said.
Missing Prsons Issue
Lt Gen Chaudhry said figures regarding missing persons are often presented inconsistently, with claims ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 individuals.
Speaking on the issue, the DG ISPR said that a commission had been established to address cases of missing persons, and that applications had been submitted to the body for investigation.
He stated that the commission received 2,900 applications from Balochistan, adding that the identities of 2,700 individuals mentioned in those cases had since been established.
The military spokesperson further said that many of the terrorists killed during security operations were found to be among those previously reported as missing persons.
Kashmir Remains Unfinished Agenda
On the Kashmir issue, he said that “Kashmir remains the unfinished agenda of Partition and the most beloved child of Pakistan. Kashmiris hold a special place in Pakistan’s heart.”
“Kashmir remains the unfinished agenda of Partition and the most beloved child of Pakistan. Kashmiris hold a special place in Pakistan’s heart,” says Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General ISPR. He said around one million Indian security… pic.twitter.com/m9d6lVR21n
— Pakistan TV (@PakTVGlobal) July 31, 2026
DG ISPR said around one million Indian security personnel remain deployed in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), while vested interests continue to pursue an agenda of creating chaos.
He said the monopoly on the legitimate use of force rests solely with the state, adding that no one is allowed to resort to violence. “Pakistan is acting with wisdom and restraint in safeguarding peace and stability,” he said.
Chaudhry said the people of Kashmir identified themselves as Kashmiris while maintaining strong ties with Pakistan.
He added that residents of IIOJK had witnessed the ideology of the RSS at close quarters and that many Kashmiris felt a deep bond with the people of Pakistan.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia ties
Lt Gen Chaudhry also commented on Pakistan’s ties with Saudi Arabia, saying that the two countries shared a special and strategic relationship built on longstanding cooperation and mutual trust.
He said Islamabad and Riyadh were closely connected across multiple domains, adding that Saudi Arabia held deep emotional significance for Pakistanis and Muslims around the world.
The military spokesperson noted that Saudi Arabia was home to Islam’s holiest sites and served as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, while Pakistan stood as their protector.
Nuclear-armed Pakistan had signed a mutual defence agreement with Saudi Arabia in September last year, committing both sides to treat any aggression against either country as an attack on both.
Propaganda against Pakistan-UAE ties
Speaking about Pakistan’s relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), ISPR chief Lt General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the two countries were brotherly nations with deep-rooted and longstanding ties.
He said unfounded narratives about Pakistan-UAE relations were spread on social media, stressing that no two countries in the world shared identical stances on every issue.
He said the relationship between Islamabad and Abu Dhabi remained close and strong.
The military spokesperson added that efforts to create misunderstandings through propaganda would not succeed, reiterating that the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and the UAE remained firmly intact.
