'Everything necessary will be done': Military spokesman reaffirms Pakistan's right to self-defence against Afghanistan-based terrorism

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said on Thursday that Pakistan had the right to self-defence and “everything that is necessary will be done” in response to terrorism emanating from Afghanistan.

His assertion came during a press briefing that was mainly focused on rebutting Indian media reports that an individual wanted in connection with the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack last year had been killed during an “encounter” in occupied Kashmir.

When asked about terrorism and attacks from Afghanistan, the military’s spokesperson said: “Our policy is very clear that there is no compromise on the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and any threat to the security and stability of Pakistan.

“Pakistan has a right to self-defence, and come what may, everything that is necessary will be done. I hope that gives you an idea as far as the perspective of the armed forces is concerned.”

“What we will do and when we will do (it) with the Afghan Taliban regime is up to us to decide,” the DG ISPR said in response to a question regarding the recent increase in strikes on Afghanistan. “They have made their choice of abetting and sponsoring terrorism.”

He added that the question that should be asked by the international media was where Bashir Zeb — “an international terrorist of an internationally recognised terrorist organisation” — and Noor Wali, “the khariji”, were.

“Why are there Afghans who are part of the formations coming and exploding here? What is Afghanistan doing about it? That is the relevant question,” he said.

The spokesperson added that to safeguard Pakistan’s citizens, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, “whatever needs to be done, we will do it, at the time and place and (via) the method that we think is most feasible”.

He stressed, however, that “Pakistan has got nothing against the Afghan people, absolutely nothing … The problem is with this Afghan Taliban regime.”

He termed the Afghan Taliban regime “non-inclusive”, “non-representative” and “non-elected”, adding that as a “forced” regime, it required a status of insecurity and oppression in which such regimes thrived.

“So for that, they have gathered all the terrorist organisations of the world, the whole alphabet — the whole soup is there, from AQIS, to ISKP, to ETIM, to IMU, FAK, FAH; God knows what,” he quipped.

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