In the Press conference addressed by DG ISPR on Friday in the backdrop of exponential increase in terrorist attacks in KPK, more so those carried out during the last two weeks in which a number of Army officers and personnel of the security forces embraced martyrdom he attributed it to the failure of governance in the province and non-implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) agreed by all stakeholders in the backdrop of attack on APS in 2014 to deal with the phenomenon of terrorism. It was undoubtedly a statement of indictment against government of the province.
He rightly claimed that while the armed forces and law enforcement agencies were shouldering their responsibility assigned under NAP and fulfilling the governance gap with their blood the political leadership in KPK was not only shirking from its responsibility to do its bit under the plan but was also supportive and sympathetic to the terrorist entity which was characterized by a nefarious collusion between crime and terrorism such as narcotics trade and non-custom-paid vehicles that allowed lawlessness to flourish and breed terrorism. He rightly observed that under a calculated design, space was given to terrorists and their facilitators, for which the people of KP are now paying the price with their blood.
Fight against terrorism is a state responsibility requiring unstinted across the board support of all the political leaders and parties rising above their narrow political agendas.
Sharing operational data to reinforce his claim in regards to efforts of the armed forces and law enforcing agencies to eliminate terrorists, he said that more than 14,535 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were conducted in KP during 2024, while 10,115 operations had already been carried out in 2025 up to September 15 – an average of around 40 operations per day. In these operations, 769 terrorists were killed in 2024, and more than 900 have been eliminated so far this year – the highest number in a decade. At the same time, 311 Pakistan Army personnel have been martyred.
He also accused the K-P government of politicizing counterterrorism and weakening the state’s resolve by seeking negotiations with militants. He said “If anyone believes their politics is greater than the state, we do not accept that. Leadership is being brought into the province that is against the state – that cannot be allowed. This was probably with reference to nomination of Sohail Afridi as future Chief Minister who is known for his links with TTP.
He categorically and unequivocally expressed the resolve of the armed forces to go to any extent to fight the menace of terrorism. It was like saying enough is enough. Now the terrorist and their facilitators will not be spared and allowed to continue hurting the state of Pakistan. He minced no words and held Imran Khan responsible for the obtaining situation due to his leanings towards TTP and advocacy of negotiations with them, which are clearly anti-state pursuits.
Not only that Imran was also a mastermind behind 9th May attacks on military installations and monuments of martyrs and the attempt to orchestrate a coup within the Army. He and his party has persisted with anti-Army narrative without any let up which is breach of the constitution as well. So he has a long litany of anti-state acts at his credit. Such a person must be made accountable for that. Had he and all those involved in those incidents been subjected to speedy trial things would not have gone bad to the extent that we are experiencing now.
No person in his right mind can take an issue with ground realities that the DG ISPR spelled out as factors leading to enhancement in acts of terrorism and failure of KPK government to fulfill its responsibility.
Terrorism poses an existentialist threat to Pakistan and by all cannons of international law and our religion those taking up arms against the state and their facilitators are treated as traitors and dealt with accordingly. There is no room for negotiations with such elements.
It is pertinent to recall that in the backdrop of terrorist attack on APS in Peshawar in 2014 operation Zarb-e-Azm was launched in Northern Waziristan and the entire infrastructure of TTP was dismantled killing hundreds of terrorists and forcing the rest to flee the country. The operation was a complete success. Peace was restored in the province. However, when Imran Khan who was a known voice for TTP came into power he repatriated all the TTP operatives and settled them in the province that actually marked resurgence of terrorism in the province.
Since his exit from power these attacks have picked up momentum with the added support of our arch enemy India which is not only supporting TTP but has also established a nexus between them and BLA in Balochistan. There are sanctuaries for terrorists in Afghanistan which receive backing from India. The DG was right on money to say that India’s use of Afghanistan as a base for terrorism was also a major reason for increase in terrorist acts and Pakistan has proof of that. Indian involvement in acts of terrorism within Pakistan is an established fact. In this regard Pakistan had prepared a dossier and shared it with UN and big powers of the world. Capture of Kalbhushan Jhadev a serving officer of Indian Navy in Balochistan and his confessions to sponsor acts of terrorism in Pakistan and insurgency in Balochistan bear an irrefutable evidence of Indian sponsorship of terrorism in Pakistan.
Lamenting legal lacunas and shortcoming in prosecuting the terrorist DG ISPR revealed as of August 2025, not a single terrorist had been convicted, with 34 cases pending, and the number of Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) cases less than three years old stands at 2,878, whereas the number of pending cases for more than three years old was 1,706. This surely was another factor contributing to failure in eliminating the scourge of terrorism.
Fight against terrorism is a state responsibility requiring unstinted across the board support of all the political leaders and parties rising above their narrow political agendas. National consensus and strategy in our common cause against terrorism is an inescapable imperative at the moment. Nothing is above the state interests and it is gratifying to note that our armed forces and law enforcing agencies have an unswerving determination to protect the state and its people. Nation surely owes them unqualified gratitude for the sacrifices that they are rendering to wipe out terrorism. It is noteworthy that reports of Afghan Taliban foreign minister’s visit to India and Indian decision of reopening its embassy in Kabul at this juncture carries serious strategic implication making it more imperative for all stakeholders to get united and adopt common strategy to thwart designs of the enemies of the country.
The writer is a former diplomat and freelance columnist.