RAWALPINDI: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has accused India of adopting state-sponsored terrorism as an official policy to destabilize Pakistan, particularly targeting the province of Balochistan.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, he described Indiaās actions as a calculated conspiracy, asserting that New Delhi is actively funding and supporting terrorist networks operating within Pakistan.
His remarks come in the wake of a deadly bomb attack in Waziristan, which claimed the lives of 16 Pakistani soldiers and injured over 20 others.
The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the assault. According to Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif, Pakistan is convinced that India is directly involved in orchestrating and financing such attacks on its soil.
Elaborating on the ideological dimension, he referred to the term āKhawarij,ā used for armed groups waging war against Pakistan. He emphasized that these groupsā extremist beliefs stem from historical distortions that have fueled violence against Muslims for centuries.
Stressing an essential Islamic principle, he clarified that only a state has the authority to declare jihad, not individuals, groups, or organizations. He condemned these militants as having no connection to Islam, humanity, Pakistan, or its cultural values.
Highlighting what he termed as āFitna-e-Hindustan,ā the DG ISPR explained this refers to terrorists operating under Indiaās patronage, with the specific aim of spreading chaos in Balochistan.
He accused Indiaās National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, of masterminding this terror network. Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif further stated that Indiaās political leadership has, on several occasions, publicly acknowledged its involvement in sponsoring terrorism within Pakistan.
The DG ISPR pointed out that Indiaās support for terrorism is not limited to a single tactic or group. āIndian terrorism in Pakistan has multiple faces,ā he remarked, stressing the diverse and dangerous nature of this threat.
He also noted that even countries like the United States and Canada have recognized the menace of Indian state-sponsored terrorism, labelling it a significant danger to global peace.
Addressing concerns about Pakistanās strategic capabilities, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif assured that the countryās nuclear program is fully secure. āNo one can dare to target our nuclear assets. Pakistan is a responsible and declared nuclear power,ā he affirmed.
In the broader regional context, he condemned Israeli attacks on Iran and reiterated Pakistanās steadfast political and diplomatic support for Tehran. This aligns with Islamabadās recent statements at the UN Security Council, where it defended Iranās right to self-defense against Israeli aggression.
