ISLAMABAD: The Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, delivered a clear and forceful message on Saturday, asserting that Pakistan remains a peace-loving nation but will respond with greater force if provoked again.
Speaking at a special session attended by over 2,500 university students from across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Lt Gen Chaudhry emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to peace, while warning adversaries against repeating past mistakes. “We are peace-loving and give priority to peace. It is our first choice. But if you make this mistake again, our response will be even more intense,” he said.
The event, held in an enthusiastic environment filled with patriotic slogans and national songs, saw students chanting “Long live the Pakistan Army” and “Kashmir will become Pakistan,” while waving national flags in support of the military.
Addressing regional security issues, Lt Gen Chaudhry accused India of orchestrating terrorist activities within Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan. “Behind every terrorist act in Pakistan, whether in Balochistan or elsewhere, is India’s hand,” he alleged, pointing to Indian support for insurgent and extremist groups operating within Pakistan.
He further recounted past military confrontations, including Pakistan's retaliatory strikes following Indian air raids. “We responded decisively, targeting only military infrastructure, not civilian areas, because we believe in peace,” he stated. One of the strikes, he said, destroyed the brigade headquarters responsible for an earlier attack in Muzaffarabad that claimed the life of a young boy.
Turning his attention to Afghanistan, Chaudhry urged the Afghan leadership not to allow their territory to be used for attacks against Pakistan. “Do not become proxies of India,” he warned, attributing blame to specific Afghan elites allegedly funded by New Delhi.
He also took aim at militant groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), condemning their distortion of Islamic teachings and their alleged collaboration with India. “You ask for help from those who violate the dignity of Kashmiri women,” he said in a strong rebuke.
Reaffirming Pakistan's historical stance on the Kashmir dispute, Chaudhry reiterated, “The time has come again — Kashmir will become Pakistan.”
The latest escalation between Pakistan and India began on April 22, when an attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir killed 26 people. India blamed Pakistan for the incident, a charge Islamabad strongly denied. Tensions escalated swiftly as India responded by suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, cancelling visas, closing the Wagah-Attari border, and downgrading diplomatic ties.
On May 7, missile strikes from India hit six Pakistani cities, killing civilians and damaging a mosque. In retaliation, Pakistan’s military launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, targeting Indian military facilities including airbases and missile storage sites. The conflict further intensified with aerial dogfights and missile exchanges.
Following intensive international diplomacy, a ceasefire was reached on May 11. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the development, a statement echoed shortly thereafter by both Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and India’s foreign secretary.
Lt Gen Chaudhry’s remarks mark a significant reaffirmation of Pakistan’s dual-track approach: a commitment to peace coupled with a firm resolve to defend its sovereignty.
