Pakistan reserves right to self-defence if Taliban regime fails to stop terrorism from Afghan soil: DG ISPR

Rawalpindi (Web Desk): Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said that Pakistan's firm and principled demand from the Afghan Taliban regime remains to ensure that Afghan soil is not used for terrorism inside Pakistan.

In an interview with Arab News, he said this is Pakistan's only demand from Afghanistan and this can fix everything, and if they do not fix it, then the state of Pakistan will fix it in the way it should be.

The DG ISPR said Pakistan reserves the right to self-defence if the Taliban regime fails to honour its commitments under the Doha Agreement of not letting Afghan soil be used for terrorist activities.

He made it clear that Pakistan has absolutely no problem with Afghanistan or the Afghan people, but its problem is with the non-inclusive and non-representative Taliban regime, which continues to support and harbour terrorist groups.

Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that nearly 80 percent of suicide bombers are Afghans. He added that Afghan nationals are present in every terrorist formation trying to enter Pakistan from Afghanistan.

He said terrorists in Balochistan do not have any public support; they are trying to impose their ideology at gunpoint.

The military’s spokesperson said that the terrorists' objective in Balochistan is to keep the province deprived because if it prospers, the people will get out of their shackles.

He said that India is sponsoring terrorism and orchestrating social media campaigns from abroad.

The DG ISPR categorically stated Pakistan's policy that there will be no talks with terrorists, adding that Pakistan does not negotiate with terrorists; it only kills them.

Speaking about the Middle East situation, he said the Pakistani leadership is in constant contact with the Saudi leadership.

Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that Pakistan's commitment to the security of Saudi Arabia is unconditional and is rooted in an emotive, historic, and unbreakable bond.

The DG ISPR said Pakistan is fully prepared to go to any extent to ensure the security of the Harmain Sharifain and is honoring its commitments under the Mecca Defence Agreement and the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia.