Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Ahmed Sharif recently held a press conference where he highlighted the ongoing challenges Pakistan faces regarding terrorist activities, particularly from Afghanistan. The major incident under discussion was the tragic death of five Chinese engineers in a suicide bombing in Bisham, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on March 26, which General Sharif attributed to a plot originating in Afghanistan.
According to General Sharif, the terrorists involved in the Bisham attack were managed and facilitated from across the border, with the suicide bomber being identified as an Afghan national. This attack is part of a broader trend of hostility emanating from Afghan soil, despite Pakistan’s repeated attempts to address these concerns with the Afghan interim government.
The conference further detailed Pakistan’s extensive efforts to counteract terrorism, citing numerous intelligence-based operations (IBOs) that have been conducted. In 2024 alone, Pakistan’s security forces carried out over 13,135 IBOs, resulting in the elimination of 249 terrorists and the arrest of 396. General Sharif emphasized the daily execution of more than 100 operations targeting terrorist networks.
Maj-Gen Sharif also discussed the strain placed on Pakistan by the presence of illegal Afghan immigrants, highlighting the government’s ongoing efforts to repatriate these individuals to stabilize the domestic situation.
In addition to terrorism, the press briefing touched on Pakistan’s relations with India, noting several ceasefire violations and other hostile activities along the Line of Control in Kashmir. The Pakistani military remains vigilant and responsive to these threats as part of its broader defense strategy.
Finally, General Sharif addressed the internal political turmoil linked to the events of May 9, following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan last year. He stressed the importance of judicial actions against those responsible for attacks on military installations and other national symbols to maintain trust in Pakistan’s justice system.