Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has dismissed the Afghan Taliban regime’s assertion that “fitna-e-khawarij” militants are Pakistani citizens, calling the claim “illogical” and urging Kabul to hand them over if they are indeed Pakistanis.
Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif made the remarks during an in-depth briefing to senior journalists on 25 November, covering Pakistan’s internal security situation, counter-terrorism operations, border management, and relations with Afghanistan.
4,910 Intelligence-Based Operations Since 4 November
The DG ISPR revealed that 4,910 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) have been conducted since 4 November 2025, resulting in 206 terrorists killed.
In 2025, security forces carried out 67,023 IBOs across the country — including 12,857 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 53,309 in Balochistan.
A total of 1,873 terrorists were killed this year, including 136 Afghan nationals.
Border Management Challenges
Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif strongly rejected allegations and propaganda targeting Pakistan’s security institutions regarding border management.
He explained that the Pak–Afghan border is one of the world’s most difficult terrains, with 1,229 km of boundary in KP alone and 20 crossing points.
At several points, the distance between military posts stretches 20–25 km, making constant surveillance extremely resource-intensive.
He stressed that border fencing alone cannot work without continuous monitoring, drone coverage, and fortified positions every 2–5 km — a requirement that demands massive resources.
The DG ISPR added that unlike Punjab and Sindh, many villages on both sides of the KP border are divided communities, making controlled movement highly challenging.
He said border management is effective only when both countries cooperate, but Afghanistan lacks a functional administrative structure along border regions.
Pakistan’s Position on the Doha Agreement
Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif reiterated that Pakistan’s stance on the Doha Agreement remains clear and consistent.
He said Afghan Taliban authorities:
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Must stop facilitating terrorists
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Must dismantle terror sanctuaries, including those linked to Al-Qaeda, Daesh/ISKP, and TTP
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Cannot ignore evidence presented by Pakistan regarding cross-border involvement
Pakistan has demanded a verifiable mechanism for compliance, and has no objection to third-party monitoring. All regional and international stakeholders have been informed of Pakistan’s concerns.
‘If They Are Pakistanis, Hand Them Over’
Rejecting Taliban claims that TTP militants are Pakistani, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif said:
“The Taliban regime’s claim that fitna-e-khawarij are Pakistanis is illogical. If they are Pakistani citizens, hand them over to us. We will deal with them under our law.”
He questioned how armed militants crossing from Afghanistan into Pakistan could be considered “guests” by Kabul.
US Military Equipment Left Behind in Afghanistan
The DG ISPR said the US left behind USD 7.2 billion worth of military equipment in Afghanistan, which significantly destabilized the region.
He warned that the Taliban regime is giving space to non-state actors, posing a major threat to regional stability.
“Any country providing military equipment to the Taliban must understand that it will ultimately fall into the hands of terrorists,” he said.
Taliban Must Behave Like a State
Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif stressed that Pakistan expects the Taliban to act like a responsible state.
He said the Taliban regime:
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Does not represent all Afghan ethnicities
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Does not represent 50% of the population — Afghan women
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Has failed to stop Afghan soil from being used against Pakistan
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Has not fulfilled its commitments under Doha
He clarified that Pakistan has no issue with Afghan citizens — the issue lies solely with the Taliban regime.
He reiterated:“For Pakistan, there is no good or bad terrorist. The only good terrorist is the one who has been sent to hell.”
Repatriation of Afghan Nationals
Pakistan has accelerated the repatriation of undocumented Afghan nationals.
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366,704 Afghans returned in 2024
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971,604 returned in 2025
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239,574 returned in the current month alone
Response to Indian Military Leadership
Reacting to recent statements by India’s army chief and political leadership, the DG ISPR said India is living in “self-delusion.”
He warned that if incidents like Operation Sindoor, the downing of seven aircraft, or destruction of S-400 batteries occurred in India, the “trailer” Pakistan has shown would turn into a “horror movie” for New Delhi.
Iranian Diesel Smuggling Funds Terrorism
Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif identified Iranian diesel smuggling as a major source of terror financing.
Before Pakistan’s crackdown, smuggling stood at 20.5 million litres per day, which has now fallen to 2.7 million litres per day.
A significant portion of the smuggling revenue went to separatist outfits such as BLA and BYC.
He added that 27 districts of Balochistan — 86% of the province — are now under police jurisdiction, improving governance and security engagement.
‘State Effort Needed to Defeat Terrorism’
Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif concluded by saying that security forces alone cannot eliminate terrorism.
“Sustainable peace will come only when the entire state machinery plays its due role,” he emphasized.
