RAWALPINDI – ISPR’s Director General, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry held key press conference, highlighting Afghan nationals were involved in Pakistan’s terrorist attacks in 2025. The military spokesperson clarified that the session was intended to present a comprehensive summary of the country’s counterterrorism efforts over the past year, saying both scale and scope of operations undertaken to address the threat.
Why 2025 Mattered
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Counterterrorism operations reached unprecedented levels, with over 75,000 intelligence-based operations conducted nationwide.
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Public and state consensus strengthened, with militant groups increasingly rejected as un-Islamic and anti-state.
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The National Action Plan was revived, and military operations were aligned under Operation Azm-i-Istehkam, though implementation gaps persist.
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International acceptance grew around Pakistan’s claim that Afghanistan has become a hub for militant activity.
Security Landscape
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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan bore the brunt of violence, accounting for nearly all terrorist incidents.
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Suicide attacks continued, including the use of female bombers, highlighting evolving militant tactics.
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The casualty ratio shifted in Pakistan’s favor, with more terrorists killed than security personnel compared to previous years.
Counterterrorism Statistics
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Terrorist incidents: 5,397 nationwide
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KP: 3,811 (71%)
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Balochistan: 1,557 (29%)
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Terrorists neutralized: 2,597
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Security & civilian casualties: 1,235
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Suicide attacks: 27 total (16 KP, 10 Balochistan, 1 Islamabad; 2 female attackers)
Terrorism
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Post-2021 developments in Afghanistan were cited as a key factor, with militant sanctuaries expanding after the Doha Agreement.
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Foreign fighters and advanced weapons allegedly flowed into the region, strengthening terrorist capabilities.
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Negotiations with militants in 2021 were blamed for giving extremist groups time to regroup.
External and Internal Dimensions
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India was accused of sponsoring terrorism via Afghan territory, providing funds, logistics, and technology.
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A “war economy” emerged, with militant groups sustaining themselves through violence after the loss of external funding.
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U.S. military equipment left in Afghanistan was reportedly being used by terrorist organizations.
Military Response
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Pakistan adopted a harder security posture from 2023 onward, including cross-border strikes against TTP targets.
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Border closures and intensified operations led to a sharp rise in militant casualties.
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The military rejected comparisons with Indian strikes, emphasizing targeted action against militants only.
Strategy and Technology
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Counterterrorism efforts focused on border control, small-unit operations, and intelligence-led surveillance.
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Drone warfare has escalated, with militants accused of initiating armed drone attacks.
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Security forces claim to use drones only for surveillance to avoid civilian harm.
Broader Message
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Counterterrorism is framed as a national—not solely military—effort, requiring public unity and ideological resistance.
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The military asserts that public awareness has improved, with clearer identification of militant groups, their sponsors, and facilitators.
https://pakobserver.net/khyber-pakhtunkhwa-became-top-target-of-terrorists-in-2025-dg-ispr/
