Rawalpindi, May 19, 2025: In a strongly worded warning, Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has declared that any aggression from India will be met with a “merciless” response, cautioning New Delhi against military adventurism in South Asia.
In an interview with Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) firmly rejected Indian allegations linking Pakistan to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. He criticized India for exploiting such incidents for political purposes, calling the accusations “baseless and dangerous.”
“India is not Israel, nor is Pakistan Palestine,” Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif stated, rejecting attempts to draw parallels with the Middle East. “We are not a nation that will bow to threats, aggression, or hooliganism.”
The ISPR chief asserted that terrorism, extremism, and religious intolerance are internal challenges for India, and condemned the Indian government for its repression of religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Sikhs. “Such oppression only breeds anger and extremism,” he warned.
He accused India of being a “state sponsor of terrorism” in the region, alleging that Indian intelligence agencies have been training and financing terrorist groups operating within Pakistan. Referring to the recent deadly attack on the Jaffar Express in Balochistan, which claimed over 20 lives, he said the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has openly sought military support from India.
“India’s involvement is no longer a secret. We have irrefutable evidence, which has already been submitted to the International Court of Justice,” he claimed, adding that some Indian politicians and retired military personnel have publicly endorsed anti-Pakistan militant outfits.
The DG ISPR highlighted Pakistan’s own struggle against terrorism, noting that the country has suffered over 3,700 terrorist incidents since January 2024, resulting in 1,314 fatalities and more than 2,500 injuries. He underscored the success of Pakistan’s counter-terrorism operations, many of which have targeted India-backed elements.
On the Kashmir dispute, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s position that Jammu and Kashmir is a UN-recognized disputed territory. He accused India of attempting to alter the region’s demographic makeup and committing widespread human rights violations.
“The Pahalgam attack is India’s internal matter,” he said. “The unrest in Kashmir is a direct result of India’s own policies and brutal governance.”
Drawing parallels to the 2019 Pulwama incident, after which India revoked Kashmir’s special status, the DG ISPR said the current tensions were part of New Delhi’s effort to deflect attention from internal political and economic issues.
“India is trying to destabilize Pakistan to hinder our progress in counter-terrorism and economic recovery,” he said. “They want to deny us the peace and stability we are steadily achieving.”
While reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to the May 10 ceasefire agreement, he issued a stern warning: “Any provocation will be met with swift and decisive retaliation. We want peace — but not at the expense of our sovereignty.”
In a startling disclosure, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif claimed that during recent hostilities, Pakistan’s military had shot down six Indian aircraft, including three Rafale fighter jets. He added that while one Pakistani aircraft sustained minor damage, it would soon return to service.
“We know the names of Indian pilots, the hospitals they’re admitted to, and even the beds they occupy,” he said, accusing India of hiding the truth from its own people.
Concluding his remarks, the ISPR chief emphasized that Pakistan desires peace but not at the cost of its dignity. “We are not Afghanistan, and India is not the United States. Let there be no misunderstanding — if provoked, we will respond mercilessly.”
