Good governance essential for Pakistan’s progress, Balochistan's stability: DG ISPR

Rawalpindi (Web Desk): Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has said that Pakistan cannot effectively overcome its challenges without good governance, stressing that sustainable development is impossible in the absence of an efficient administrative system.

He said this while addressing a news conference focused on the overall security situation in the country, particularly Balochistan.

The DG ISPR maintained that the country's constitutional framework should determine whether the public is satisfied with its government, adding that if administrative reforms or a governance reset are required to improve state institutions, such measures should be seriously considered.

The military’s spokesperson said Pakistan's youth are fully aware of the importance of the state and understand its role in safeguarding the country's future.

He remarked that politics, identity, and all other national institutions can only exist when the state remains strong, emphasizing that Article 5 of the Constitution places loyalty to the state above all else.

Lt Gen Chaudhry revealed that security forces had carried out 40,348 intelligence-based operations across Pakistan so far this year, resulting in the killing of 2,084 terrorists. He said 31,080 of these operations were conducted in Balochistan, 7,177 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 2,091 in other parts of the country.

He further stated that 819 security personnel embraced martyrdom during counterterrorism operations this year, while Pakistani civilians and members of the armed forces also lost their lives in terrorist incidents.

The DG ISPR reiterated that there is no room for negotiations with terrorists, saying they must either surrender their weapons or continue to face state action. He added that security operations against terrorist groups and their facilitators would continue without interruption.

Speaking about Balochistan, Lt Gen Chaudhry said misleading narratives were being promoted regarding the province's situation. He argued that Balochistan's challenges are not limited to security concerns alone but are equally linked to governance, development, and the effective writ of the state.

He claimed that terrorist groups receive assistance through various channels and said law enforcement agencies are actively pursuing those networks. Referring to anti-smuggling efforts, he noted that authorities had seized large quantities of illegal goods and narcotics during ongoing operations.

Discussing the issue of missing persons, the military spokesperson referred to the commission established to investigate such cases, saying many individuals reported missing from Balochistan had later been identified, while some were found to have been involved in terrorist activities.

He said differing statistics had long been circulated regarding missing persons, but stressed that state institutions were working to establish the facts and present an accurate picture.

The DG ISPR added that authorities were examining foreign support and propaganda networks associated with terrorism.

During the briefing, he also mentioned evidences regarding India's and Afghanistan's involvement in supporting hostile activities against Pakistan.

The military spokesperson said that the state was countering anti-Pakistan narratives with facts and would continue its campaign against terrorism.

Alongside security operations, he noted that development initiatives in Balochistan were progressing in sectors such as water supply, healthcare, and education, stressing that empowering the people of the province is as important as maintaining security.

The DG ISPR described good governance as a fundamental requirement for Pakistan's national security and said all political parties were in agreement on the implementation of the National Action Plan.

Highlighting Pakistan's regional partnerships, he said the country's relations with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are rooted in shared faith, history, and deep emotional ties, adding that Pakistan remains committed to honouring its international agreements and promises.

Lt Gen Chaudhry Ahmed Sharif paid tribute to the country's martyrs, calling them the backbone of the Pakistan Army.

He reaffirmed that operations against terrorists and their facilitators would continue in accordance with the Constitution and the law, while state institutions would remain committed to maintaining peace and stability.

The military’s spokesperson added that attempts are deliberately made to portray Balochistan as unstable despite ongoing efforts to strengthen peace, reiterating that "where there is a state, there is politics; where there is life, there is identity."

“Pakistan is a country where the Constitution and the rule of law must apply equally to everyone,” the DG ISPR said.