Latest news with #AhmedSharifChaudhry
Express Tribune
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
No power can detach Balochistan from Pakistan: DG ISPR
Listen to article Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry reaffirmed that Balochistan is an integral part of Pakistan and that no power can detach it from the country. 'Balochistan is part of Pakistan and will always remain so,' he declared, adding, 'No one can separate it.' Addressing educators during the Hilal Talks 2025 programme organised by the military's media wing on Monday, the DG ISPR dismissed the narrative of Balochistan's separatism as baseless, asserting that the province is deeply integrated into Pakistan's economy and society. 'The propaganda that Balochistan can be separated is unfounded,' he said. 'Baloch, Sindhi, Pashtun, Punjabi, Kashmiri, and Balti – we are all brothers and united. No one can divide us,' he affirmed. The military spokesperson warned that India and its proxies pose a grave threat to regional peace, providing full financial support from New Delhi to the banned Balochistan Liberation Army, locally referred to as 'Fitna al-Hindustan'. 'There is no idea or ideology behind the terrorism in Balochistan – it is entirely India-sponsored.' He added that India alone bears responsibility for the destabilisation across the region. He also highlighted the enduring bond between the people and the armed forces, calling it a 'timeless relationship of love.'
India Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
A Baloch reproach: How Pakistan lies about India and Balochistan
On May 23, Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces, held a press briefing alongside Interior Secretary Khurram Muhammad Agha in Islamabad. There, Chaudhry spoke about how the Pakistani military was a responsible force, how it was accountable to the people of the country, the freedom of expression the media allegedly enjoyed in Pakistan, and how the country respected the rights of religious minorities. He also claimed that Pakistan was a democratic remarks were aimed at convincing the public that Pakistan is better than its neighbour, India. As Chaudhry said, India controls its media, detains journalists, targets activists, and denies religious freedom to galoreThese statements are not only far from the truth but can easily be debunked by simply searching for 'how minorities are treated in Pakistan' on the internet. Pakistan has a sordid history of persecuting Ahmadis, burning down their places of worship, denying them dignity, and casting them out of society. Christians are treated even worse. The only jobs available to them often involve manual labour, such as cleaning gutters or working as toilet attendants. They are not seen as equals and are often not even regarded as human. Many are forced to live in small huts on the outskirts of cities, unable to live among the Muslim The country is also notorious for abducting and forcibly marrying underage Hindu girls, forcing them to convert to Islam. Those responsible for such crimes are often protected by the state. If the victims' families speak out, they are punished for allegedly tarnishing Pakistan's image. The killings of Shias and Hazaras are yet more examples of how the Pakistani state treats religious minorities within its sweeping claims about freedom of expression and the press in Pakistan compared to India are not only false but also an attempt by the Pakistani military to create a false narrative and distract from its crimes and acts of terrorism. In Pakistan, the media is only free when it serves the interests of the military and the ruling who report on the brutalities committed by the Pakistani forces or who speak about the persecution of Baloch, Pashtuns, Sindhis, Muhajirs, Kashmiris, Ahmadis, Shias, Christians, and Hindus are targeted, and the news organisations they work for are often banned or forced to conform. Many journalists have faced persecution for their work, and many remain behind bars. On May 24, a Baloch journalist was targeted and killed by Pakistani forces in the Awaran district of Balochistan, further demonstrating the so-called freedom of the press in press briefing was filled with lies and misinformation. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry blamed India for the situation in Balochistan and other parts of Pakistan, citing the attack in Khuzdar on May 21 as an example. Without providing any concrete evidence, the spokesman for the Pakistani Armed Forces relied on social media posts and news reports, stating that because Indian media reported the attack, India must have been involved in targeting a so-called military school Pakistani government, military, and the media blamed the Baloch Liberation Army without presenting a shred of evidence. They even went as far as to share doctored videos, falsely claiming that children were targeted in the attack. Independent sources have reported that the actual target was military personnel and that a significant number of them were killed. So far, no Baloch or other militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.A bloody historySince its inception, Pakistan has relied on spreading false narratives to justify its brutal actions against political activists and human rights defenders. The same state that committed genocide against Bengalis still dares to sit before the press and blame India for supporting Bangladesh, conveniently ignoring its role in denying the democratic mandate of Bengalis and pushing them toward seeking independence from Pakistan's oppressive Pakistan's claims that India supports Baloch armed groups are irrelevant. It was not India that invaded and occupied Balochistan in 1948 using military force. It was not India that carried out five major military operations against the Baloch people, killing thousands of civilians. India is not the one behind the enforced disappearances of Baloch did not betray Agha Abdul Karim Khan and Nawab Nauroz Khan. It did not overthrow the elected National Awami Party government. It did not test nuclear weapons in the populated region of Chaghi without evacuating locals. It did not assassinate Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti or the leaders of the Baloch National Movement and Baloch Republican Party, including Ghulam Mohammad Baloch, Sher Mohammad Baloch, and Lala Munir Baloch. It did not target the Baloch Students Organisation Azad or abduct and kill countless of its did not murder professors like Saba Dashtyari and Zahid Askani for their educational contributions and love for their homeland. Nor did it kill thousands of Baloch citizens in torture camps, including the son of Mama Qadeer Baloch and the father of Dr Mahrang is the Pakistani state that is responsible for abducting and killing political activists and leaders, such as the father of Sammi Deen, who has been missing for 16 years. It is the Pakistani state that murders Baloch citizens and buries them in mass are just a few examples of the countless atrocities committed by the Pakistani state in Balochistan over the past 27 ignorance and its failure to understand the Baloch issue are evident even in its language. The ISPR director general refers to the Baloch people as "Balochi", a term that refers to the language. A person who does not even know the difference between the people and their language claims to have authority over them and to decide who their leaders are. His tone and body language during the briefing reflected a deep-seated hatred toward the Baloch people, a sentiment the people of Balochistan are all too familiar with. This hatred is not new; it has been a consistent part of the state's Sharif Chaudhry also launched a personal attack on Dr Mahrang Baloch, the prominent leader of the Baloch people, claiming she does not enjoy popular support. This is the most blatant lie of the entire press conference. Dr Mahrang Baloch is arguably the only leader in recent times who has garnered such widespread support from the Baloch nation. Her popularity is rooted in her struggle and the people's trust, and the lies and fabrications of military spokesmen will not diminish Pakistani state, its military establishment, intelligence agencies, and so-called democratic governments have consistently used brutal force against the people of Balochistan to suppress their struggle. This mindset remains unchanged, and it continues to be reflected in their statements and press briefing was yet another attempt by the Pakistani state to fabricate a deceptive image of itself, diverting attention from its long record of oppression, human rights violations, and state-sponsored violence, particularly in Balochistan. By making hollow comparisons with India and presenting itself as a democratic, tolerant, and accountable nation, Pakistan continues to deny the harsh realities endured by its citizens, especially those in occupied historical denialism, and attacks on credible Baloch voices are central components of the state's propaganda machinery. Yet no amount of narrative manipulation can erase the suffering, the sacrifices, or the unyielding resistance of the Baloch nation.(Hakeem Baloch is the focal person for the Baloch National Movement's foreign department. He is a freelance journalist and regularly writes about human rights issues and current affairs in Balochistan.)(Views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author)Tune InTrending Reel
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Dangerous gamble in Kabul
EDITORIAL: The Director General of ISPR has said out loud what the Pakistani security establishment has been warning about for some time now: that the Afghan government is not merely turning a blind eye to cross-border terrorism but actively harbouring Indian-sponsored groups orchestrating attacks on Pakistan. Lt-General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry's statement — delivered to a student gathering in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — deserves more than cursory coverage. It is a sobering reminder that regional instability is being weaponised by actors who have little interest in peace and who remain invested in permanent disruption. At the heart of this crisis lies a bitter irony. Pakistan has long stood by its Afghan brethren. From hosting millions of refugees for decades, to providing critical aid during times of war and famine, Pakistan's policy towards Afghanistan has been shaped more by shared history and kinship than by cold geopolitics. Yet today, elements within the Afghan state appear to be trading that fraternity for intelligence payouts from New Delhi. This is not just a diplomatic problem; it is a direct threat to Pakistan's internal security. The surge in terrorist attacks launched from Afghan soil has coincided with reports of financial and material support being channeled to extremist outfits by Indian agencies operating with impunity in Afghanistan. Whether the motive is to destabilise Pakistan's western frontier, draw attention away from atrocities in Kashmir, or simply exploit regional fault lines, the outcome is the same: bloodshed inside Pakistan, mistrust across borders, and a region drifting further away from stability. The Afghan government, or what passes for one under Taliban rule, must understand that this covert alignment with India's intelligence apparatus is not a strategic masterstroke—it is a reckless gamble. It risks turning Afghanistan into a staging ground for proxy warfare, isolating it further from regional partnerships that could offer genuine development, trade, and security cooperation. If Kabul thinks short-term financial patronage is worth undermining its only neighbour that has consistently supported its people, it is sowing the seeds of long-term strategic isolation. There is also a message here for the Afghan people. The sentiments echoed by the students present at the DG ISPR's address — the nationalistic chants, the visible unity — reveal a national mood that is no longer willing to excuse cross-border attacks as unintended fallout. If fraternal ties are to mean anything, the Afghan public must hold its rulers accountable for decisions that endanger regional peace and drag them into foreign-sponsored agendas. The Pakistani people have stood by Afghans in their darkest hours. What they see now is betrayal repackaged as diplomacy. India's hand in this is unsurprising. Its well-documented strategy of using asymmetric warfare to apply pressure on Pakistan is neither new nor particularly clever. What has changed, however, is Pakistan's posture. General Chaudhry's remarks point to a military that is not only alert but prepared. He referenced a past operation targeting 26 sites in India—conducted in response to aggression—to underscore that strategic miscalculation by New Delhi will not go unanswered. That same clarity should now guide Pakistan's policy towards Kabul. This is no time for romantic illusions. Afghanistan's government must decide whether it wants to be a partner in peace or a pawn in someone else's war. If it chooses the latter, it will find itself further destabilised, diplomatically isolated, and economically stranded. For Pakistan, the path forward must combine vigilance with clarity. Diplomatic channels must remain open, but the red lines must be unmistakable. Terror launched from Afghan soil, with Indian backing, is not an Afghan domestic matter—it is a hostile act. And it will be treated as such. The stakes are high. But the choice is simple. Either Kabul plays its role in ensuring peace, or it owns the consequences of choosing provocation over partnership. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Nation, army gave India taste of own medicine
Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry reaffirmed on Sunday that the Pakistani nation and its armed forces have always stood together in the face of external threats and will continue to do so. Addressing students from various universities of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the military's top spokesperson pointed to recent tensions with India, emphasising the collective resolve displayed by the nation. "They [India] thought we would attack and Pakistan wouldn't respond. You saw how all of you stood behind your country. The entire Pakistan stood united and, by the grace of Almighty, this iron wall was erected," he said, referring to the national unity witnessed during the latest standoff with India following the Pahalgam attack. Lt Gen Chaudhry said all of India's assumptions, including those made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, were comprehensively disproven by Pakistan's timely and effective response. He detailed Pakistan's retaliatory steps following the attacks on May 6 and 7, revealing that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir had ordered a response targeting 26 Indian positions. The ISPR chief disclosed that Pakistan had successfully destroyed the brigade headquarters of the Indian unit responsible for the shelling that martyred a seven-year-old child, Irtaza, in Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). He further stated that the Indian airbases from which aircraft had launched strikes on May 6 and 7 were also among the targets neutralised during the operation. Contrasting Pakistan's conduct with that of its adversary, the DG ISPR said that the military adhered to international laws and norms. "Did your [Pakistan] army target any civilian infrastructure, any civilian population? No," he asked the students. "We are peace-loving and prefer peace as our first choice," he added, warning India that any repeat of such aggression would be met with an even more "fierce response". Regarding regional terrorism, Lt Gen Chaudhry said India was orchestrating and financing destabilising activities across South Asia, including Pakistan. He said that the perpetrators of attacks on mosques and the slaughter of innocent civilians had no connection to Islam or the traditions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or Pashtun culture. "These terrorists are followers of India," he said. He also referred to a militant figure, Khargi Noorwali, criticising him for justifying collaboration with non-Muslims under the guise of religious legitimacy. "He claims that Shariah permits seeking help from non-believers. But in Islam, truth and falsehood cannot exist together," said the ISPR chief. "You seek help from India, a country where the dignity of Kashmiri girls is violated," he added. Speaking on Afghanistan, Lt Gen Chaudhry stressed that Pakistan viewed its western neighbour as a "brotherly Islamic country," while criticising elements within the Afghan elite for enabling anti-Pakistan activities.
Business Recorder
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
‘Afghan elite' sheltering terrorists for Indian funds: DG ISPR
PESHAWAR: Calling the people of Afghanistan brothers, DG ISPR Lt General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Sunday accused the 'Afghan gentry' of giving refuge to terrorists in lieu of money received from the Indian government. Speaking to over 2,500 students from different universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), who held a special sitting with him, he urged Afghanistan not to play into the hands of India. The DG ISPR said the time had come for Kashmir's independence. Govt vows decisive action against 'India-sponsored' terrorists after Khuzdar attack He further said that India was under the impression that Pakistan might not defend itself as there existed a gulf between its people and the armed forces. 'But the nation, by standing with their armed forces, proved the enemy wrong,' he said, and added, 'This was a strategic miscalculation on the part of India.' Pakistanis, he went on to say, had always been like this and would remain so. Lt Gen Chaudhry made it clear to India that if it attacked Pakistan again, the latter's response would be even tougher. 'We decided to attack 26 sites in India,' the DG said, adding that the Pakistan Air Force destroyed those air bases from where the Indian Air Force's jets flew to kill innocent Pakistani men, women and children. 'Likewise, we destroyed the brigade headquarters on whose orders shells were dropped on Muzaffarabad and which had resulted in the martyrdom of a seven-year-old Irtaza.' Carrying national flags in their hands, the students shouted slogans of 'Pakistan hamesha zindabad' and 'Kashmir bane ga Pakistan.' The Pakhtun students, on the occasion, vowed that they would not spare the enemies of the country and inflict a humiliating defeat on them.
