Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Tuesday held a detailed press briefing, outlining Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts in 2025 and highlighting the role of Afghan-based militants in major attacks.
Addressing the press, the DG ISPR described 2025 as a “landmark and consequential year” in Pakistan’s fight against terrorism, citing four key factors: unprecedented intensity in counter-terrorism operations, nationwide clarity on the threat, international recognition of Pakistan’s narrative on terrorism, and reinvigoration of the National Action Plan (NAP). He emphasised that terrorism is the “biggest threat” facing the state and must be addressed collectively by the nation.
Providing operational data, Lt Gen Chaudhry revealed that Pakistan’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies conducted 75,175 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) last year—an average of 206 per day. Of these, 14,658 took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 58,778 in Balochistan, and 1,739 across other parts of the country. A total of 5,397 terrorist incidents were reported nationwide, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accounting for 71 percent (3,811 incidents), Balochistan 29 percent (1,557 incidents), and the remainder in other areas.
The DG ISPR reported that 2,597 terrorists were killed in counter-terror operations in 2025, while 1,235 law enforcement personnel and civilians lost their lives. Suicide attacks totalled 27, including two carried out by female bombers. He attributed the high concentration of attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to a “politically conducive environment” and the presence of a “political-criminal-terror nexus,” singling out the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership in the province for allegedly resisting counter-terrorism measures and seeking support from Afghanistan.
Lt Gen Chaudhry also highlighted the cross-border dimension of terrorism. He accused the Afghan Taliban of providing a haven for militants, including non-Afghans and Syrian fighters, while aiding the TTP with training, organisational guidance, and weapons left behind by the United States in 2021. He further alleged that India was financially supporting the Afghan Taliban and using the Afghan territory as a base to target Pakistan, claiming the Afghan regime had attacked Pakistani border posts in October 2025 in direct support of terrorist groups.
The ISPR chief detailed ten major terror incidents in 2025, stating that all 78 militants involved were killed, while 60 civilians were martyred. Among the high-value targets killed was Amjad Ali, the second-in-command of the TTP shura. Video confessions of arrested terrorists were also shown during the briefing. Attacks cited included the Jaffar Express bombing, targeting a civilian bus in Noshki, and assaults on Frontier Corps headquarters in Quetta and Peshawar, all allegedly carried out by Afghan militants. He also warned that attacks on schools and soft targets, including attempts to replicate the 2014 APS Peshawar attack, remained a persistent threat.
Lt Gen Chaudhry concluded by underscoring that counter-terrorism is “a war of the nation” rather than solely a military effort, asserting that Pakistan would continue to act firmly against terrorism at all costs. He clarified that while terrorists have employed armed quadcopters, the Pakistan Army uses drones primarily for surveillance.
“The fight against terrorism is not just justified but necessary,” he said, urging citizens to remain vigilant and supportive of the ongoing operations.