ISLAMABAD: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has accused the Afghan Taliban government of acting as India’s proxy and using militant groups and mercenaries to carry out terrorist activities against Pakistan.
In an interview with Reuters conducted two days earlier, the military spokesperson alleged that India was the biggest sponsor of terrorism in Pakistan and that the Afghan Taliban regime was facilitating militant organisations operating against the country.
He identified the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) as groups allegedly being used as Indian proxies to destabilise Pakistan.
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Afghanistan remained under the influence of non-state actors, describing the Taliban administration as a regime that relied on militant organisations and hired fighters to pursue its objectives.
He maintained that several intelligence agencies and proxy networks had established a presence in Afghanistan following the Soviet intervention, contributing to the country’s longstanding security challenges.
The DG ISPR said international militant organisations, including Al-Qaeda, Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) and Jaish al-Adl, were present in Afghanistan.
He claimed that the presence of such organisations had been highlighted by the United Nations, the United States and several other countries.
Explaining Pakistan’s position, the military spokesperson said Islamabad’s demand from the Afghan Taliban authorities was straightforward: they must stop supporting terrorist activities inside Pakistan.
“Pakistan only asks the Afghan Taliban to stop supporting terrorists inside Pakistan,” he said.
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry alleged that the Afghan Taliban regime was providing shelter to militant commanders, including Noor Wali, Bashir Zeb and Gul Bahadur.
He further claimed that terrorist operations targeting Pakistan were planned and organised from Afghan territory, with weapons and operational support also originating from across the border.
The military spokesperson warned that the Taliban administration would face serious consequences if it continued to disregard Pakistan’s concerns regarding cross-border terrorism.
He also questioned the Afghan Taliban government’s international credibility and urged the global community to press Kabul to act as a responsible state.
According to the DG ISPR, the international community should demand that the Afghan Taliban authorities prevent their territory from being used by militant organisations and take action against the cultivation and production of narcotics.
He stressed that Afghanistan’s rulers must fulfil their responsibilities to prevent activities that threaten regional security.
Addressing potential security threats from Afghanistan, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan’s armed forces possessed the capability to counter all threats originating from the Afghan Taliban regime, including drone attacks.
He reaffirmed that Pakistan’s military was fully prepared to respond to security challenges and protect the country’s territorial integrity.
The remarks reflect Pakistan’s concerns over cross-border militancy and its demand that the Afghan Taliban authorities take effective measures against groups accused of carrying out terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.