Pakistan’s military has firmly closed the door on negotiations with armed militant groups operating in Balochistan, dismissing claims that the province’s security situation is spiraling out of control.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry made the remarks during a press briefing on Friday focused on counterterrorism efforts and the broader national security picture. He argued that certain elite figures and tribal Sardars in Balochistan were actively blocking children from poor households from getting ahead, and suggested this resistance to progress was fueling unrest in the region.
“We will not talk to you; we will talk to the people of Balochistan,” Lt Gen Chaudhry told reporters, drawing a clear line between the state’s willingness to engage ordinary citizens versus armed groups.
ISPR Rejects Balochistan Security Situation Claims
The military spokesperson said a coordinated disinformation campaign was being run against the state, using the situation in Balochistan as cover. He pointed to the province’s difficult terrain and vast size as genuine operational challenges, noting Balochistan is home to roughly 14.89 million people spread across enormous distances between security posts.
He added that specific criminal and militant networks were exploiting this geography, engaging in terrorism, robbery, narcotics trafficking, and diesel smuggling, all of which were worsening conditions on the ground.
On the contentious issue of missing persons, Lt Gen Chaudhry revealed that the relevant commission had logged 201 applications. He questioned the accuracy of the list itself, claiming that some individuals killed during counterterrorism raids had subsequently turned up as “missing,” while others allegedly tied to militant camps had also been included.
The ISPR chief reiterated that ordinary Balochistan residents remain the real stakeholders in the province’s future, stressing that military operations were being directed at militants rather than the general population.
No Room Left for Negotiations With Terrorists
Ruling out any further dialogue with armed groups, Lt Gen Chaudhry delivered a blunt ultimatum: “Either you surrender, or we will fight you.”
He opened the briefing with a broader accounting of counterterrorism operations conducted so far this year. Security forces have carried out 40,348 operations nationwide, averaging roughly 194 raids per day, resulting in 2,084 confirmed militant deaths, or about 10 kills daily. Of these operations, 1,971 took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alone.
The human cost on Pakistan’s side was also significant. According to the briefing, 819 personnel and civilians were martyred this year, comprising 303 army soldiers, 194 law enforcement personnel, and 322 civilians.
Lt Gen Chaudhry also disclosed that 28 suicide attacks were recorded across the country during the period, attributing recent bombings in Tank (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Karachi to Afghan nationals.
The briefing comes as Pakistan’s security forces continue an ongoing counterterrorism campaign under Azm-e-Istehkam, aimed at rolling back militancy nationwide.