Mariam Ellahi

RAWALPINDI: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that India is planning another &ldquo;false flag&rdquo; operation, emphasizing that this time the operation would be in the &ldquo;deep sea.&rdquo; The head of the military&rsquo;s media wing was speaking with journalists in Rawalpindi on Monday ahead of the Coordination Meeting of Arab-Islamic Foreign Ministers in Istanbul. During the discussions, the spokesperson revealed that India is planning another false-flag operation in the deep sea, cautioning that Pakistan&rsquo;s response would be &ldquo;greater than before.&rdquo; &ldquo;If India wants to do something on sea, land, or air, they can do it. Pakistan will do whatever it takes to take care of it. We are very good at taking care [of things]. And when we take care [of things], the world will see,&rdquo; he remarked. He said the international community must recognize India&rsquo;s attempts to disturb regional peace through provocations and propaganda. On Trump&rsquo;s remarksResponding to a question about US President Donald Trump&rsquo;s recent remarks on nuclear weapons testing, he said that the strategy of any country is fluid, emphasizing that Pakistan will continue to carry out tests and trials as required for national security. &ldquo;The strategy of any country is fluid and always kept under abeyance, and we are not bound to make such moves public,&rdquo; he said. Counterterrorism operations figuresRegarding the ongoing operations against terrorists, the DG ISPR said that 62,113 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) have been conducted so far this year. This has resulted in the killing of 1,667 terrorists, including 128 identified Afghan nationals, he added. During these operations, 1,073 Pakistanis embraced martyrdom, including 584 army personnel, 133 law enforcement officers, and 356 civilians. The DG ISPR reiterated that Pakistan&rsquo;s counterterrorism actions are intelligence-based and aimed at eliminating terrorism in all its forms. Terror-crime nexus and narcotics fundingLt. Gen. Chaudhry warned of a growing &ldquo;terror-crime-political nexus&rdquo; that continues to obstruct counterterrorism efforts under the National Action Plan (NAP) -- a governmental strategy launched after the Army Public School attack in 2014 to combat terrorism across the country. He said that certain political elements and facilitators hinder operations against narcotics and terror-financing networks. The spokesperson disclosed that security forces destroyed over 12,000 acres of poppy fields in the northwestern district of Khyber, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and around 40 acres in southwestern Balochistan, adding that the profit per acre ranges between Rs1.8 million to Rs2.5 million ($6,000&ndash;$9,000). He explained that profits from these crops are used to finance terrorism, smuggling, and other cross-border crimes. At the same time, local populations are often co-opted into these activities in return for a share of the proceeds. He further revealed that &ldquo;khawarij&rdquo; (terrorists) collect &ldquo;usher&rdquo; &mdash; a form of tax &mdash; from locals on this illicit trade. &ldquo;When our law enforcement agencies intercept narcotics smuggling or attack these networks, they come under attack from terrorists and their facilitators,&rdquo; he said. Terror-criminal nexus in Khyber and Tirah districtsHighlighting the security situation in Khyber District and the Tirah Valley, the DG ISPR said there were 508 terrorist incidents reported in the area during 2025, resulting in 192 casualties among army, Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel, and civilians. He said that political stakeholders and criminal networks have &ldquo;financial stakes in this illegal trade.&rdquo; Whenever operations are launched, &ldquo;they start campaigns against the security forces under the pretext of protecting civilian areas.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;When we check their logistical sustenance, they attack our convoys and check-posts. Our soldiers are laying down their lives to protect the motherland,&rdquo; he added. Afghan Taliban killed in Pakistan-Afghanistan standoffDiscussing the recent border clashes between Islamabad and Kabul, the DG ISPR said that intelligence estimates confirm 206 Afghan Taliban border forces and 112 militants were killed during Pakistan&rsquo;s operations. He said that Pakistan shared real-time evidence with the Afghan regime during the Doha and Istanbul talks held recently. He added that Islamabad shared Afghan identity cards and records of cross-border infiltration attempts. &ldquo;Our position is clear. Afghan soil must not be used against Pakistan,&rdquo; he stressed. &ldquo;Afghanistan needs a representative government. The people of Afghanistan are not terrorists,&rdquo; he said. The DG ISPR said that Islamabad&rsquo;s stance was well-received internationally, adding that &ldquo;Afghanistan&rsquo;s terrorism is now well internationalized, and the country has become an epicenter of terrorism.&rdquo; No negotiations with terroristsThe DG ISPR categorically ruled out any dialogue with terrorist outfits, saying: &ldquo;We will never talk to terrorists.&rdquo; He said the Afghan Taliban and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are &ldquo;closely linked,&rdquo; adding that the TTP itself claims to be a branch of the Afghan Taliban. He accused the Afghan authorities of providing human shields to terrorists and relocating them into civilian neighborhoods, which he termed &ldquo;criminal.&rdquo; &ldquo;If they are Pakistani, then hand them over to us. Why are Bashir Zeb (leader of the Baloch Nationalist Army), Noor Wali Mehsud, and Qari Amjad being protected? This must finish now,&rdquo; he warned.&nbsp;He clarified that Pakistan&rsquo;s dispute is not with the people of Afghanistan but with a non-representative regime patronizing terrorism and the narcotics trade. He also appreciated the constructive roles of Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye in promoting peace and dialogue. He said Pakistan remains open to verifiable and results-oriented mechanisms but will act decisively if terrorism persists. &ldquo;Our security is not to be guaranteed by Kabul. It is in our own hands. No appeasement policy with terrorists,&rdquo; he concluded. Gaza and regional peaceRegarding the Gaza International Stabilization Force, the DG ISPR said the decision lies with the Pakistan government and parliament, reiterating that national security and the protection of citizens remain the state&rsquo;s top priority.

Security

DG ISPR warns India planning deep-sea false-flag operation; Pakistan vows stronger response; reports counterterror successes; poppy cultivation funding militancy; rejects talks with terrorists; cites cross-border Taliban casualties and regional concerns


India planning false-flag operation in deep sea: spox Pakistan Army

Muhammad Usman Amin

PESHAWAR: With militant groups in northwestern Pakistan increasingly deploying drone technology to strike security forces and state installations, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) authorities have begun rolling out advanced anti-drone guns as part of a revised counter-terror response, senior police officials said.&nbsp;Militant outfits operating in KP have steadily expanded their use of quadcopter drones to launch attacks, shifting the conflict &ldquo;from a horizontal to a vertical level.&rdquo;&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Bannu Police Sajjad Khan said the drones being used are &ldquo;acquired through the black market and smuggled across the border from Afghanistan.&rdquo;&nbsp;According to internal estimates, 57 drone-assisted attacks were reported between July and August alone.&nbsp;Earlier this month, militants targeted the Khadi Fort of paramilitary forces in Mir Ali, North Waziristan. Before using a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), militants deployed drones to strike the compound and divert security personnel.&nbsp;In another incident in Bannu district, officials reported at least eight drone attacks over recent months, including one where an explosive drone missed its intended target and hit a nearby house, killing a woman and injuring three children.&nbsp;The drones, often commercially available quadcopters modified to carry explosives or mortar shells, have prompted a new defensive strategy.&nbsp;The KP police have begun equipping personnel with anti-drone guns designed to disrupt the communication link between a drone and its operator. These devices emit electromagnetic pulses that jam the drone&rsquo;s control, navigation, and video feed, forcing it to land safely and allowing for intelligence extraction.&nbsp;Sajjad Khan said the technology can disable suspicious drones from up to three kilometers away, providing protection for public gatherings, security convoys, and sensitive locations.&nbsp;The first operational deployment took place in July during the Ashura procession in Peshawar, where officials say the technology helped prevent attacks during an event historically vulnerable to violence.&nbsp;Initially, anti-drone systems are being deployed in Peshawar, Bannu, and Bajaur, districts that have seen a spike in militant activity.&nbsp;The Public Relations Officer (PRO) to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) KP, Riaz Khan, told Pakistan TV Digital that the technology &ldquo;is now being used in many areas,&rdquo; and that its introduction has &ldquo;successfully reduced drone attacks to zero in the areas where it has been implemented.&rdquo;&nbsp;This early success has encouraged a broader rollout. IGP KP Zulfiquar Hameed recently announced that 70 drones will be deployed across the province, including to the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), alongside the acquisition of additional anti-drone guns. The objective, he said, is to build a &ldquo;comprehensive security umbrella&rdquo; across KP.&nbsp;The KP police say they remain committed to &ldquo;making the citizens of KP and Pakistan safer by equipping their forces with the latest technologies.&rdquo;

In Pakistan’s northwestern province, authorities have deployed anti-drone guns to counter militants increasingly using quadcopter drones for attacks, disrupting their communication signals and reducing drone strikes in key high-risk districts.

Pakistan deploys anti-drone tech to counter militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Muhammad Imad Abbas

ISLAMABAD: Interim Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi has dismissed claims that Afghanistan poses a security threat to its neighbors, even as multiple reports highlight that militant organizations continue to operate from Afghan territory, fueling instability across the region. During a recent visit to India, Muttaqi addressed concerns about militancy and regional security. Responding to questions from the Indian press, he said, &ldquo;Pakistan is not our only neighbor. China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan&mdash;why don&rsquo;t they have any complaints?&rdquo; However, a number of reports, including those by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), suggest that several armed groups maintain a presence in Afghanistan. These groups are said to threaten not only Pakistan but also other countries in the wider region. According to the UNSC&rsquo;s findings, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains the most prominent Pakistan-focused militant organization operating inside Afghanistan. The TTP, formed in 2007 and aligned with Al-Qaeda, is estimated to have around 6,000 fighters stationed across Afghanistan&rsquo;s Baghlan, Wardak, Nuristan, Kunar, Ghazni, Kabul, and Helmand provinces. The report further notes that the TTP &ldquo;continues to receive logistical and operational support&rdquo; from Afghanistan&rsquo;s de facto authorities and that its militants are &ldquo;trained in camps set up by Al-Qaeda.&rdquo; In April this year, Pakistan&rsquo;s military reported killing 54 TTP fighters attempting to infiltrate from Afghanistan. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that the operation was part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts along the border. Militant groups based in Afghanistan are not limited to the TTP. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), which has waged an insurgency in Pakistan&rsquo;s southwestern Balochistan province, is also believed to maintain safe havens inside Afghanistan. BLA commander Aslam Baloch, also known as Achu, was killed in Kandahar in December 2018, according to Al-Jazeera.&nbsp; The UNSC report adds that the BLA has a &ldquo;non-aggression pact&rdquo; with the TTP, under which both groups refrain from targeting each other, and that TTP provides training support to Baloch militants. The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), another major group, reportedly commands between 4,000 and 6,000 fighters in Afghanistan, including defectors from the Afghan Taliban, TTP, and Al-Qaeda. ISKP has expanded its reach across the region. Last year, Pakistan, in coordination with T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s National Intelligence Organization (MIT), arrested ISKP&rsquo;s media head, Abu Yasir al-Turki, during a joint intelligence operation near the Afghan border. Meanwhile, Al-Qaeda continues to maintain training facilities across Afghanistan, used by both its members and TTP operatives. The group&rsquo;s South Asian affiliate, Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), remains ideologically aligned with the Taliban. AQIS&rsquo;s second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, was killed in a US drone strike in Kabul in July 2022, according to the US Department of War. Other regional outfits, including the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), which targets China, and Tehrik-e-Taliban Tajikistan, reportedly operate from Afghan soil. The TIP, led by Abdul Haq Turkistani, maintains ties with both the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, with Abdul Haq serving on Al-Qaeda&rsquo;s executive council, according to the UNSC. Similarly, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), with an estimated 500 to 800 fighters based in northern Afghanistan, continues to pose a threat to Central Asian states. Afghanistan-based outlet Amu TV has described the IMU as maintaining &ldquo;deep historical ties&rdquo; to Afghanistan&rsquo;s insurgency. Despite these documented presences, the Afghan Taliban government continues to deny harboring foreign militants. Muttaqi&rsquo;s remarks in India reflect Kabul&rsquo;s consistent position that Afghanistan is not a source of regional instability. Still, the contrast between official statements and international assessments underscores the region&rsquo;s lingering security dilemma, where assurances of peace coexist uneasily with the persistent activity of transnational militant networks.

Multiple UN and intelligence reports indicate that militant networks, including the TTP, BLA, ISKP, and Al-Qaeda affiliates, continue operating from Afghan soil despite Taliban denials, raising fresh concerns over regional stability and cross-border security threats

Articles tagged with "militants"

India planning false-flag operation in deep sea: spox Pakistan Army

Pakistan deploys anti-drone tech to counter militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Militants expand footprint in Afghanistan as Taliban downplay regional threat