PESHAWAR – October 11, 2025 — In a strongly worded statement, DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry called on the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to fulfil its responsibility to protect citizens rather than “begging Afghanistan for security.” Speaking at a press conference at the Peshawar Corps Headquarters, he stated that governance gaps in KP were costing the lives of soldiers, police, and civilians.
Lt Gen Chaudhry emphasized that appeasement of terrorists and their facilitators is not and never has been a state policy. He asserted, “The state and its institutions will not be influenced by any political distortions.”
“We reached close to [realising] the dream of a peaceful Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. [But], unfortunately, as part of a plan, terrorists and their facilitators were then provided space here.” https://t.co/Zj5lIDk13A
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) October 10, 2025
The DG ISPR criticized certain political voices that have advocated talks with terrorists, labeling such rhetoric as dangerous and disconnected from the ground reality. He noted that Pakistan, especially KP, has faced terrorism for over two decades, with security forces conducting over 14,000 operations in 2024 alone.
Highlighting the strategic shift after the 2014 APS tragedy, DG ISPR noted Pakistan came close to peace, but warned that poor governance and political appeasement reversed hard-won gains.
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On Afghan relations, the DG said Pakistan maintains dialogue with Kabul but will continue taking unilateral steps to defend its people. “We demand only one thing from Afghanistan: don’t let your soil be used for terrorism against Pakistan,” he added.
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“For the past two decades, Pakistan, particularly KP, was facing the issue of terrorism.” https://t.co/Zj5lIDk13A— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) October 10, 2025
The press conference concluded with a solemn tribute to the martyrs of KP and a renewed call for unity, clarity, and responsibility in confronting terrorism.
