Afghan Forces Open Fire Across Border to Aid Terrorist Infiltration: ISPR

Islamabad_ Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated that Afghan forces open fire at Pakistani check posts to facilitate the infiltration of terrorists into Pakistan. He shared these observations during a briefing with journalists on November 25, highlighting severe security challenges along the border.

Security Vacuum in Terrorism-Prone Areas

Lt Gen Chaudhry noted that governance is extremely limited in border areas such as Tirah and Khyber, with only 5–10% of the region under administrative control, including courts and law enforcement. He emphasized the difficulty of controlling movement across villages and populations divided between Pakistan and Afghanistan, noting that 29 tribes have members on both sides.

Challenges of Border Sealing

The DG ISPR addressed suggestions to “hermetically seal” the border, comparing it to the US-Mexico border. He stressed that fences alone are ineffective without observation and fire coverage, and establishing military posts every 2–5 km with drone surveillance would involve significant infrastructure and manpower costs.

Terror-Crime Nexus and Smuggling

Lt Gen Chaudhry warned of the terror-crime nexus, where banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) cells in Pakistan support infiltration by using non-custom-paid vehicles and facilitating attacks on army and Frontier Corps (FC) deployments. He noted that 0.4–0.45 million vehicles operate illegally, which are also used in vehicle-borne IEDs by terrorists.

Pak-Afghan Dialogue and Evidence Presentation

Regarding the recent breakdown in Pak-Afghan dialogue, the DG ISPR stated Pakistan’s stance was clear: TTP presence, funding, and activities from Afghan soil are unacceptable. Pakistan presented evidence that the Afghan side could not deny and proposed a third-party mechanism to verify action against cross-border terrorism.

Weapons Left Behind and Non-State Actors

The ISPR chief cited the US report showing over $7.2 billion of military equipment left in Afghanistan in 2021, and noted the Afghan Taliban’s failure to establish a functioning state. He highlighted the presence of TTP, Fitna al Hindustan, ETIM, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Al Qaeda, and Daesh in Afghanistan.

Counter-Terrorism Operations in Pakistan

Lt Gen Chaudhry detailed Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts: since January, 67,023 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) have been conducted nationwide, killing hundreds of terrorists. Balochistan recorded the highest number of IBOs with over 53,000, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 12,800.

Repatriation and Illegal Migration Control

The DG ISPR highlighted the repatriation of 971,604 illegal migrants in 2025, including 239,574 in November alone, compared to 366,704 in 2024. He emphasized that security takes precedence over trade and that illegal migration must be curtailed.

India and External Influence

The DG ISPR addressed India, accusing it of attempting to sell its military setbacks as victories. He warned that any support to the Afghan Taliban, claiming it’s for their army, may end up empowering terrorists.

Social Media Threats

Lt Gen Chaudhry also flagged social media accounts based outside Pakistan that incite violence and create narratives against the state, displaying examples targeting Balochistan.

Ongoing Counter-Terrorism Efforts

Since November 4, 4,910 IBOs have been conducted, averaging 233 per day, with 206 terrorists killed. Overall, 4,729 terrorist incidents occurred since January, predominantly in KP (3,357) and Balochistan (1,346).