ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military spokesperson has called for the establishment of a credible and verifiable mechanism to ensure that Afghan territory is not used for terrorist activities against Pakistan.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry in an interview with a private news channel said Pakistan consistently states that terrorist incidents originate from Afghan territory and asks for a transparent system to verify this.
“Terrorist leadership is being harbored inside government buildings, frequently moved, concealed, and protected from accountability,” he said.
DG ISPR noted earlier, these elements operated with total impunity, crossing borders freely while Pakistan was repeatedly told to remain patient.
“That phase is over. Now, restraint and patience must be shown by those sheltering terrorists. Pakistan has demanded direct action, hand over terrorists, dismantle their camps, and shut down recruitment networks,” he said.
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry in his remarks said training camps operate openly and Madrassas are used to mobilise fighters. “Funding of certain Madrassas is tied to sending fighters into Pakistan,” he said.
He went on to say Pakistan’s people and leadership are not naïve, they will not accept violence followed by hollow offers of dialogue.
“There is no justification for killing Pakistani children, bombing mosques, or murdering soldiers who are the nation’s pride,” he added.
DG ISPR expressing his views said Pakistan has held talks many times, directly, through friends, and in multilateral forums. “Our demand is simple and fair that talks and terrorism cannot happen at the same time,” he said.
He stated that it is unacceptable for the Afghan Taliban authorities to call for dialogue while, at the same time, allowing terrorists to operate against Pakistan. He emphasised that talks and terrorism cannot coexist.
He said that no country in the world is willing to guarantee the conduct of the Afghan Taliban. According to him, terrorism is not incidental for the Taliban regime but forms a core part of its functioning. He stated that the regime’s power structure and survival appear to depend on sustaining such activities.
He further remarked that Afghanistan under the current Taliban administration cannot be considered a normal state, alleging that a nexus between terrorism and criminal activity has become a way of life within the system.
The military spokesperson added that the Taliban leadership often attempts to deflect criticism by invoking diplomacy, religion, or political narratives. However, he stressed that Islam does not permit terrorism, suicide bombings, cruelty, or inhumane treatment of people, particularly women.
The DG ISPR noted that Islamic teachings clearly forbid suicide and violence against innocent people, and that such acts have no religious justification. He also pointed out that women make up a large portion of Afghan society, yet the current regime remains non-inclusive.
Referring to the Doha Agreement, the DG ISPR said that the Afghan Taliban had committed to forming an inclusive government, protecting women’s rights, and ensuring that Afghan soil would not be used for terrorism against other countries. He stated that, according to Pakistan’s assessment, none of these commitments have been fulfilled.
