RAWALPINDI: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry while terming 2025 a landmark and consequential year in the fight against terrorism on Tuesday categorically said that Pakistan will win this war not through appeasement, but through force and strength.
Addressing a news conference here, the DG ISPR said that the fight against terrorism is a collective struggle of the entire nation and that Pakistan remains fully determined to eradicate this menace.
He said the purpose of the briefing was to provide a comprehensive overview of the counter-terrorism measures undertaken over the past year.
Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif said that the past year witnessed an “unprecedented intensity in counter-terrorism efforts.” In 2025, both the state and the people of Pakistan achieved complete clarity regarding the threat of terrorism, he added.
Sharing details, the DG ISPR said that a total of 75,175 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were conducted in 2025. Of these, 14,658 operations were carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 58,778 in Balochistan, and 1,739 in other parts of the country.
He said that 2,597 terrorists were killed during the year, including 1,800 in KP, 784 in Balochistan, and 10 in other areas. Moreover, he said that 1,235 law enforcement personnel and civilians embraced martyrdom in the war against terrorism during 2025.
Regarding suicide bombing, Ahmed Sharif said that a total of 27 took placed in 2025. Of them, 16 took place in KP, 10 in Balochistan and one in Islamabad, at the judicial complex.
He said 3,811 terrorism-related incidents occurred in KPK, raising the critical question of why 80 percent of terrorist incidents are happening in the province.
The DG ISPR said the world has also accepted and acknowledged Pakistan’s stance and narrative regarding terrorism, particularly about Afghanistan. Terrorists have no connection with Islam and that Afghanistan has become a base of operations for terrorism in the region, he added.
He said that terrorists and “Fitna-e-Hindustan” have no link with Balochistan or the Baloch people.
He said that 10 major terrorist incidents took place during 2025, including attacks on Bannu Cantonment, the Jaffar Express, a civilian bus in Noshki, and a school bus in Khuzdar, he added.
He said that the Federal Constabulary Headquarters, FC Headquarters Quetta, Police Training School Dera Ismail Khan, Cadet College Wana, and the Islamabad Judicial Complex were also targeted.
He said that the Federal Constabulary Headquarters in Peshawar was attacked again, adding that Afghans were found to be involved in all 10 major terrorist incidents.
The DG said every attacker involved was Afghan and was eliminated, and that terrorism-related incidents had declined after the border was closed.
He said that Pakistan’s stance against terrorism is clear, and the world has acknowledged and appreciated the country’s efforts to combat it.
Regarding Afghanistan, Ahmed Sharif said the country has turned into a haven for terrorists, with various militant organizations from around the world operating from its soil. Sanctuaries of groups such as Al-Qaeda, Daesh, the BLA, and the TTP exist in Afghanistan, impacting not only Pakistan but also other neighboring countries, he said.
The DG said that according to recent intelligence, around 2,500 terrorists have arrived in Afghanistan from Syria, none of whom are Pakistani.
He termed this a serious threat to regional security, adding that Afghanistan’s neighboring countries are also being affected by terrorism due to this situation and that the international community should take notice.
He further said that the United States left behind a large quantity of advanced weaponry during its withdrawal from Afghanistan, which is not only being used in terrorist activities in Pakistan but also poses security risks to the entire region.
The DG ISPR went on to say that India is using terrorist groups as proxies in the region and is providing them with weapons and financial support. “Security institutions possess evidence in this regard, and that the issue has become a serious threat to regional peace,” he added.
