Jaffar express attack will forever remain part of Pakistan’s history – DG ISPR

Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, highlighted the involvement of Afghan nationals in significant terrorist activities that occurred within Pakistan during the past year. Speaking at a detailed press briefing in Rawalpindi, he emphasized that these individuals played a role in major “high-impact” incidents, underscoring ongoing security challenges linked to cross-border terrorism.

The DG ISPR detailed that Pakistan conducted a total of 75,175 intelligence-based operations across the country in 2025. These efforts aimed to dismantle militant networks and prevent attacks, yet during this period, Pakistan experienced 5,397 incidents of terrorism. These attacks resulted in the loss of 1,235 lives, including law enforcement personnel and civilians, reflecting the persistent threat posed by insurgent groups.

Among the notable terror incidents cited by Lieutenant General Chaudhry were the Jaffar Express attack, the assault on the Frontier Constabulary headquarters in Bannu, and an attack on Cadet College Wana. The military spokesperson described these as major incidents that left a lasting mark on Pakistan’s collective memory, with the Jaffar Express attack particularly etched into the nation’s history.

He also pointed to violence carried out by the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), mentioning attacks on buses in Khuzdar and Nushki. These incidents, he argued, were linked to cross-border militant networks operating from Afghanistan, indicating a nexus between local insurgents and external support, which complicates Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts.

The military shared figures revealing that in Balochistan alone, 58,778 intelligence-based operations were carried out during 2025. Despite these extensive efforts, 1,557 of the 5,397 armed attacks nationwide took place in Balochistan, representing nearly 29 percent of all incidents. The province saw the killing of 784 militants, illustrating both the scale of violence and the ongoing counter-terrorism challenge in the region.

Lieutenant General Chaudhry disclosed that Pakistan recorded 27 suicide attacks across the country in 2025, with ten of these occurring in Balochistan. These figures, he said, reflect both the severity of the terrorist threat and the heightened intensity of security operations conducted by Pakistani law enforcement agencies to combat these threats.

He reiterated that a total of 2,597 militants were killed across Pakistan during the year, asserting that “all major terrorist organizations” continued to operate within Afghanistan. The DG ISPR accused Afghanistan of nurturing these groups and maintaining their presence inside its borders, claiming that terrorism has not been eradicated from Afghan territory.

The military official criticized the Afghan government, describing it as lacking a proper structure and questioning its legitimacy. He stated, “Has terrorism been eradicated from Afghanistan? Contrarily, Afghanistan has become a hub of terrorists and non-state actors,” emphasizing that the country’s current political situation was contributing to regional insecurity.

In response to Pakistan’s accusations, the Afghan Taliban dismissed the remarks as “baseless and provocative.” In a statement issued late Tuesday, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid condemned the criticism, stating it was contrary to facts and unbecoming of a responsible military institution. He stressed that Afghanistan remains a “sovereign and stable country,” asserting full control over its territory.

Mujahid further warned against interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs, describing it as unacceptable to the Afghan public. He urged Pakistan to cease what he called “baseless propaganda” and to focus on resolving its internal issues instead. The Taliban spokesperson emphasized that bilateral relations should be handled responsibly, with statements that are “serious, careful and measured” to avoid unnecessary tensions.