Director General ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Tuesday said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remained the worst-affected province by terrorism, attributing the trend to a “political-criminal-terror nexus” and a favourable political environment for militants.
Addressing an important press conference, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the briefing aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of Pakistan’s counter-terrorism measures over the past year.
He stressed that terrorism remains a serious challenge, but the state and people stand united in eliminating it.
“The war against terrorism is the war of the entire nation,” he said, adding that terrorists are Khawarij and have no connection with the religion of Islam.
KP most affected by terrorism
The ISPR chief said nearly 71% of terrorist incidents nationwide occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“The primary reason for this is a politically conducive environment and the flourishing political-criminal-terror nexus in the province,” he said, warning that such linkages have emboldened militant groups.
He added that terrorism is not a provincial issue but a national threat that requires unity, consistency and political consensus.
Counter-terrorism operations in 2025
Lt Gen Chaudhry described 2025 as a historic and productive year in Pakistan’s fight against terrorism, marked by an unprecedented scale of operations.
According to him, law enforcement agencies conducted 75,175 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across the country during the year.
Key statistics from 2025
Total counter-terrorism operations: 75,175
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 14,658 operations, 16 suicide bombings
Balochistan: 58,778 operations
Other regions: 1,739 operations
Total terrorist incidents nationwide: 5,397
Total suicide bombings: 27
Martyrs: 1,235
He said the scale and intensity of operations reflected the state’s resolve to dismantle terrorist networks.
National consensus on counter-terrorism
The DG ISPR said all political parties remain aligned on the National Action Plan, demonstrating nationwide consensus against terrorism.
“The state has a clear and uncompromising stance. Terrorism will be eliminated,” he said, adding that Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts have received global appreciation.
Afghanistan turning into terrorist safe haven
Lt Gen Chaudhry said political changes in Afghanistan in 2021 proved to be a major turning point in the resurgence of terrorism across the region.
He said the security situation deteriorated after the Doha Agreement, with direct consequences for Pakistan’s internal security.
The ISPR chief noted that the Afghan Taliban had made three commitments after assuming power:
Not allowing Afghan soil to be used for terrorism
Ensuring women’s rights
Establishing an inclusive and representative government
“Unfortunately, no practical progress has been seen on any of these fronts,” he said.
According to the DG ISPR, the absence of an inclusive government in Afghanistan has encouraged terrorism, turning the country into a safe haven for militants.
He said global terrorist outfits, including Al-Qaeda and ISIS, are operating there, while leadership and training centres of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) are also based on Afghan soil.
He added that groups such as the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) targeting China and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) targeting Central Asia are also active in Afghanistan. Militants from multiple ethnicities and regions are present, with foreign terrorists shifting to the region following recent developments in Syria.
Terror financing and external support
Lt Gen Chaudhry revealed that several terrorist groups are operating at a regional level and are receiving financial and logistical support through different proxies. He disclosed that around $7.2 million has been provided to terrorists, along with bulletproof jackets and other protective equipment.
The DG ISPR said that internal political factionalism and weak governance in Afghanistan have further strengthened terrorist networks. He added that the Afghan Taliban played a calculated “graded game” at various levels, which allowed militant organizations to regroup and expand their influence.
Lt Gen Chaudhry said that after 2021, the Afghan Taliban began reorganizing the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan as a central or “mother” organization. He added that the TTP was given an Afghan Taliban-style organizational structure, including training systems, command direction, and strategic guidance, significantly enhancing its operational capacity.
