DG ISPR Reiterates Pakistan’s Demand Over Afghan Soil

ISLAMABAD: (News Desk) – Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said Pakistan’s firm and principled demand from the Afghan Taliban regime remains that Afghan soil must not be used for terrorism against Pakistan.

In an interview with Arab News, the DG ISPR said preventing the use of Afghan territory for attacks inside Pakistan was Islamabad’s sole demand from Afghanistan, adding that addressing the issue could resolve broader bilateral tensions.

He warned that if the Taliban authorities failed to meet their commitments, Pakistan reserved the right to take measures in self-defence. He also referred to commitments under the Doha Agreement concerning the prevention of terrorist activity from Afghan territory.

Lieutenant General Chaudhry said Pakistan had no dispute with Afghanistan or the Afghan people, but objected to what he described as the Taliban regime’s lack of inclusivity and representation and its alleged support for militant groups.

He claimed that nearly 80 percent of suicide attackers in Pakistan were Afghan nationals and said Afghan citizens were present in militant formations attempting to enter Pakistan from Afghanistan. These figures and allegations were presented by the DG ISPR as part of Pakistan’s security assessment.

Regarding Balochistan, the DG ISPR said militant groups lacked public support and were attempting to impose their ideology through violence. He said, according to Pakistan’s assessment, the objective of such groups was to keep the province deprived of development.

He also accused India of sponsoring terrorism against Pakistan and of conducting social media campaigns from abroad. India has previously rejected Pakistani allegations of state sponsorship of terrorism.

Reiterating Pakistan’s stated counterterrorism policy, Lieutenant General Chaudhry said there would be no negotiations with terrorist groups.

Pakistan-Saudi Arabia security ties

Discussing the situation in the Middle East, the DG ISPR said Pakistan’s political and military leadership remained in continuous contact with Saudi authorities.

He described Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security as unconditional, saying it was rooted in what he called a historic and longstanding relationship between the two countries.

Lieutenant General Chaudhry said Pakistan was prepared to go “to any extent” to defend Saudi Arabia against aggression and that the commitment also covered the protection of the two holiest Islamic sites in Makkah and Madinah. Arab News reported the same remarks in its interview with the military spokesperson.

He said Pakistan was honouring its commitments under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement and the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia. The Makkah agreement, signed in August 2026, links the security of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, while the bilateral strategic defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was signed in September 2025.