Rawalpindi, October 31, 2025: Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Friday reiterated that any external aggression against Pakistan would be met with a “firm and severe” response, according to a statement issued by the military’s media wing.
The remarks come amid heightened tensions with Afghanistan over Islamabad’s repeated concerns about cross-border terrorism. Pakistan has urged the Taliban government to ensure that Afghan soil is not used for attacks against it, a claim the Taliban continue to deny.
The DG ISPR made the comments while addressing students and academics from universities in Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “The armed forces remain committed to defending the country, and any external aggression will be met with a firm and severe response,” Lt Gen Chaudhry was quoted as saying.
He added that Pakistan has taken effective steps against terrorism and Fitna al-Khawarij — a term used by the state for militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The ISPR statement said the DG ISPR also briefed participants on the current security situation, including Pakistan-Afghanistan border tensions and the military’s recent engagements during the period the army has designated as “Marka-i-Haq.”
The army has named the period of conflict with India — from the April 22 Pahalgam attack to the conclusion of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos on May 10 — as “Marka-i-Haq.”
During the session, Vice Chancellor of Hazara University Dr Ikramullah Khan praised the armed forces’ role in ensuring national security, calling their resolve “a metaphor for their love for the country.”
“Terrorist elements are trying to mislead our youth, which makes it crucial to spread accurate and reliable information,” Dr Khan was quoted as saying.
Students and teachers attending the session also lauded the Pakistan Army and said the interaction with the DG ISPR helped dispel misinformation about the military and the broader security situation.
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in terrorist incidents — particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan — since the TTP unilaterally ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022. The group has primarily targeted police, law enforcement, and security forces.
Meanwhile, in May 2025, Pakistan faced its worst military standoff with India in decades. Following a four-day escalation, the two nuclear-armed neighbours agreed to a ceasefire mediated by the United States.
Earlier, on October 21, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir had also warned that any violation of Pakistan’s territorial integrity would be met with a “firm and decisive response.”
