Perception being created that the situation in Balochistan is deteriorating: DG ISPR

Why This Matters

Key context: <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed ' data-original-src='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1iI6QU7f5E'> <div class='media__item media__item--youtube '><iframe src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/K1iI6QU7f5E?enablejsapi=1&controls=1&modestbranding=1&rel=0' loading='lazy' allowfullscreen='' frameborder='0' scrolling='no' width='100%' height='100%'></iframe></div> </figure> <p>Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said on Friday that deliberate attempts were being made to create a perception that the situation in Balochistan was deteriorating.</p> <p>He made this remark while addressing a press conference focused on the overall security situation in the country, particularly Balochistan.</p> <p>At the outset of the briefing, the military’s spokesperson said 40,348 intelligence-based operations had been conducted this year so far, adding that the figure covered operations carried out by all security forces, including police, civil armed forces, intelligence agencies and the armed forces.</p> <p>Of these operations, most were carried out in Balochistan, with the number exceeding 31,000, he said.</p> <p>The DG ISPR added that overall 3,145 terrorism incidents had taken place in the country in 2026, among which 1,971 were reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 1,148 from Balochistan and 26 from other parts of the country.</p> <p>During this time, he continued, 2,084 individuals who were confirmed terrorists were killed. “This comes to an average of 10 terrorists being killed every day, which is the highest ratio ever,” he added.</p> <p>Meanwhile, security forces were undertaking nearly 200 intelligence-based operations (IBO) per day. “So these IBOs are going on every hour.”</p> <p>The DG ISPR further stated that “819 Pakistanis have been martyred” in incidents of terrorism in the ongoing year, which came to four per day. This comprised 303 army personnel, 194 law enforcers from police and civil armed forces and 322 civilians.</p> <p>He added that 28 incidents of suicide bombing had taken place this year, “the majority of which were carried out by Afghan nationals […] and people associated with their security forces”.</p> <p>Comparing the number of terrorists killed last year with those killed in 2026, he said 2,597 were killed in 2025 and 2,084 this year so far.</p> <p>Pointing out that five months were left before 2026 would end, he said, “The way the kinetic prong of the counter-terrorism is maturing, responding and delivering, that is before you.”</p> <p>He further elaborated that the number of martyrs in comparison to slain terrorists was higher, but the tide started turning in 2024. And in 2025, “for each martyr we were taking out minimum two [terrorists], and this year, we are taking out minimum 2.5 [terrorists].”</p> <p>Here, he added, a valid question to ask would be why terrorism incidents are rising. “Because once returns from other elements of their strategy begin diminishing, they focus more here. And you saw when their direct strategy during Marka-i-Haq failed, they started investing a lot more here,” he explained.</p> <p>The DG ISPR added this also had to do with the “agenda of the terrorist-supporting Taliban regime” and the clarity that the state of Pakistan had.</p> <p>“These terrorists and their sponsors have come to understand that there is no space for appeasement or any talks with them […] They know that the state is telling them very clearly that either you submit to the state’s will in accordance with law and the Constitution, otherwise we are here and fighting,” he said.</p> <p>Moreover, he added, this also had to do with the proactive nature of the operations. “These [terrorism] incidents also rise because when we get proactive […] there will be more engagements.”</p> <p>Speaking of the “perception that the situation in Balochistan has worsened”, he said this matter would be discerned by answering three questions.</p> <p>The first question was what the issue was, the second was what was happening and the third was what was being done, he said.</p> <p>Coming to the first question, he said the issue was not just specific to Balochistan but covered the overall security environment in Pakistan.</p> <p>The issue, he said, was “Hard state, question mark.”</p> <p>“Are we a hard state? Unfortunately not,” the military’s spokesperson added. Explaining the reason behind his answer, he said a hard state was one where the constitution and law were the same for everyone. “That is what a hard state is. It does not mean a military-run state, it does not mean an armed forces-dominated state,” he added.</p> <p>The DG ISPR said a state where all matters were decided in accordance with law and the constitution, where everyone was equal, was a hard state. And in that hard state, there would be security and stability; there would be no grievances.</p> <p>Then there was also the matter of obligations versus rights, he said, adding that it pertained to being aware of one’s responsibilities before speaking about one’s rights.</p> <p>“We are all taking up grievances — at some places slogans are also being raised in connection with those grievances and even arms are being taken up in some instances — and all those grievances [pertain to demand for rights],” he said.</p> <p>Saying that the demands for rights and grievances may be genuine, he added that obligations needed to be fulfilled first.</p> <p>“Let me try to explain the context constitutionally,” he said, quoting Article 5 of the Constitution.</p> <p>The provision preceded Article 8, which elaborated on fundamental rights, he said, adding that Article stated: “Loyalty to the state and obedience to the Constitution and law. It says loyalty to the state is the basic duty of every citizen. Full stop. Absolutely clear.</p> <p>“The provision’s second part states that obedience to the Constitution and law is the inviolable obligation of every citizen wherever he may be.”</p> <p>So the Constitution is “clear that we have some fundamental duties that we need to be loyal to the state”.</p> <p>“If we are loyal to the state and we are obedient to the Constitution and the law, then you can talk about your rights,” he said. Citing a statement by Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir at the National Workshop in Balochistan recently, he said when the rights movement is talked about, why not an “obligations movement”.</p> <p>“There has to be a movement for the obligation of every citizen,” he asserted.</p> <p>Further speaking of the obligations, he said, “Is this not an obligation for every citizen that our first and final identity should be Pakistani? … We are citizens of this state, so our first identity and our last identity and the foremost identity is being a Pakistani.</p> <p>“It is our obligation to acknowledge the fundamental position, the central position of the state of Pakistan because if there is the state, there is politics, there is life […] These are our fundamental obligations.</p> <p>“Are we working towards that? Let’s think about it.”</p> <p>Focusing on Balochistan, he said the fundamental issue in the province was elitism and <em>sardarism</em>, and the desire to maintain the status quo.</p> <p>“This is that part of society that believes it has no obligations and only thinks of their rights. The elites, the <em>sardars</em> are a part of it. And I am not talking about all of them but those who believe that this status quo must be maintained,” the DG ISPR said.</p> <p>He added that this status quo predated 1947, under which a poor man’s child could not get education and progress.</p> <hr /> <p><em>More to follow</em></p> This development from dawn.com highlights ongoing changes in the sector.