In this interview, DG ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry discusses the ongoing military operation “Ghazab-Lil-Haq” and provides a detailed account of Pakistan’s current security challenges, particularly regarding terrorism originating from Afghanistan.
The following is a detailed summary of the key topics discussed:
Context and Objectives of Operation Ghazab Lail-ul-Haq
- Ongoing War on Terror: The DG ISPR clarifies that this operation is not a standalone event but part of Pakistan’s long-standing war against terrorism. He emphasizes that this war was imposed on Pakistan by terrorists and their sponsors, specifically naming India as a key funder using Afghanistan as a base of operations.
- Response to Aggression: The operation is a response to 53 attacks initiated by the Afghan Taliban against Pakistani border posts. It targets terrorist support infrastructure, including core headquarters, ammunition depots, and drone storage sites.
Rebuttal of Civilian Casualty Allegations
- The Kabul Strike: Regarding reports of a strike on a drug rehabilitation center in Kabul, the DG ISPR asserts that the target was a military camp containing ammunition and drone storage. He attributes the resulting fires and explosions seen by the public to secondary detonations of the stored ammunition and missiles.
- Questioning Credibility: He dismisses claims of high civilian casualties (such as the 400 reported by some media) as coming from “discredited” sources that have previously shared fake news, such as false claims of capturing Pakistani tanks or pilots.
- Use of Drug Addicts: He notes that the Afghan Taliban regime reportedly rounds up drug addicts and utilizes them for terrorism and suicide bombing, suggesting that any “rehab center” near a military site would likely be a training facility for such purposes.
The Nexus Between Afghan Taliban, TTP, and India
- Harboring Terrorists: The DG ISPR accuses the Afghan Taliban of providing sanctuary to the leadership of banned organizations like the TTP (Nure Wali, Gul Bahadur) and BLA (Bashirzeb) within government buildings.
- Indian Involvement: He repeatedly highlights a “deep nexus” between RAW (Indian intelligence) and the Afghan Taliban. He claims India provides “rudimentary” drones to terrorists to maintain plausible deniability while targeting Pakistan.
- Global Terror Hub: He describes Afghanistan under the current regime as a center for global terrorists, mentioning contacts with Al-Shabaab and the descendants of Osama bin Laden.
Technical Warfare and Border Security
- Drone Warfare: Pakistan has successfully neutralized incoming drones using a combination of soft and hard-kill systems managed by the Pakistan Air Force and Army Air Defense.
- Precision Munitions: In Operation Ghazlul Haq, Pakistan has avoided general-purpose bombs to minimize collateral damage, opting instead for Precision Guided Munitions (PGMs) to hit specific terrorist infrastructure.
- Border Management: The DG ISPR states that securing the border is essential to stopping the flow of terrorists and the “reverse flow” of smuggled goods, which has significantly harmed Pakistan’s economy.
Status of Negotiations and “End Game”
- Failed Talks: While Pakistan has engaged in talks via third parties like Qatar and Turkey, no breakthrough has occurred because the Afghan Taliban refuses to abandon terrorism.
- Verifiable Mechanisms: Pakistan demands a verifiable mechanism to ensure Afghan soil is not used for terror, but the DG ISPR notes that the regime’s “business” is terrorism and narcotics.
- Pakistan’s Objective: The ultimate “end game” is for Afghanistan to cease being a base for operations against Pakistan. He warns the Afghan regime they must choose between their “love for the TTP” and their own survival.
Operational Results and Human Cost
- Physical Losses: As of the interview, Pakistan’s operations have resulted in:
- 700+ terrorists killed and over 938 injured.
- 255 border posts destroyed and 44 captured.
- 237 tanks and armored vehicles destroyed.
- 81 air strikes conducted on internal terrorist hideouts.
- Internal Security: In addition to border operations, Pakistan conducts over 200 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) daily within the country.
- Casualties in Pakistan: The DG ISPR highlights the heavy toll on Pakistani civilians, noting that 130 civilians have been martyred in the first few months of 2026 alone, following 400 civilian deaths in 2025.
Media and Propaganda Warfare
- Content Creators: He labels terrorists as “content creators” who film their attacks from multiple angles to create a false sense of lawlessness.
- Indian Amplification: He points out that these videos are often professionally edited and first appear on Indian social media handles, further proving the linkage between the groups.
In conclusion, the DG ISPR conveys that Pakistan has “no hurry” and possesses the “power of faith and truth” to continue fighting these “Kharijites” (terrorists) for as long as necessary to ensure national security.
