DG ISPR Says Pakistan’s Security Guaranteed by Armed Forces, Not Kabul, making it clear that the country’s defense and internal stability rest solely on the strength of its own military institutions, not external assurances.
Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, while briefing senior journalists in Islamabad, stated that Pakistan never celebrated the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan. He emphasized that Pakistan’s security forces continue to combat militant groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), and other terrorist organizations, reaffirming that the protection of Pakistan lies entirely with its armed forces, not with Kabul.
Addressing a question regarding drone activity, the DG ISPR clarified that Pakistan has no agreement with the United States over drone operations and has not received any formal complaint from the Taliban regime. He added that during recent talks in Istanbul, Pakistani officials clearly conveyed to the Afghan Taliban that controlling terrorism within Afghanistan is their responsibility.
“These militants were once our own people,” he said. “When Pakistan conducted counterterrorism operations, they fled to Afghanistan. We have demanded their return so they can be dealt with according to our constitution and law.”
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif highlighted that the real challenge is the nexus between terrorism, criminal networks, and the TTP. He revealed that such groups are heavily involved in opium cultivation, earning between Rs 1.8 to 2.5 million per acre, with warlords, TTP elements, and local Taliban factions all sharing in the profits. “They operate together as a syndicate,” he said, “fueling both crime and terrorism for financial gain.”
Responding to another query, he noted that the creation of any new position within the military is solely a government decision, not a military prerogative.
