Surrender or be eliminated, DG ISPR warns terrorists

RAWALPINDI -- Pakistan's military has carried out more than 40,000 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) against terrorism over the past five years, with terrorists left with only two options: surrender in accordance with the law or face elimination, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said on Friday.

Addressing a press briefing on counterterrorism and national security, the military spokesperson said more than 31,000 intelligence-based operations had been conducted in Balochistan and 7,177 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, underscoring the state's sustained campaign against militant networks.

Lieutenant General Chaudhry said terrorism had claimed the lives of 819 people so far this year, including 303 military personnel and 322 civilians. He added that security forces had conducted an average of 194 operations each day, resulting in the killing of 2,084 verified terrorists, with an average of 10 militants neutralised daily.

He said 28 suicide attacks had taken place during the year, alleging that Afghan nationals were involved in most of the bombings. Referring to recent incidents in Tank and Karachi, he claimed that evidence pointed to the involvement of Afghan citizens.

The ISPR chief further alleged that Afghanistan's Taliban administration was supporting terrorist groups and accused it of pursuing a diplomatic approach centred on terrorism.

Rejecting what he described as deliberate attempts to portray the security situation in Balochistan negatively, Lieutenant General Chaudhry said there was no room for negotiations with terrorists. He maintained that the state would continue to act strictly within the framework of the Constitution and the law.

He also alleged that certain members of the elite and tribal leadership opposed Balochistan's development because they did not want underprivileged communities to progress. He stressed that the state's engagement was with the people of Balochistan rather than vested interests.

The military spokesperson said the Constitution and the rule of law applied equally to all citizens. He argued that the concept of a "hard state" referred to the strict enforcement of constitutional and legal principles rather than military rule, adding that loyalty to the state was a fundamental responsibility of every citizen.

Lieutenant General Chaudhry further claimed that Fitna al-Khawarij, Fitna al-Hindustan and their supporters had increasingly shifted their focus towards soft targets. According to him, 178 civilians have been martyred so far this year, while terrorists have damaged bridges and roads at 24 locations and set fire to installations at 60 sites, which he described as evidence of their anti-development agenda.