The unity between the Pakistani nation and its armed forces has remained steadfast and will continue to endure, stated Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry.
Speaking to university students from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military spokesperson highlighted the country’s collective resolve during recent escalations with India following the Pahalgam attack. “India assumed that Pakistan would not respond, but the entire nation stood together like an iron wall by the grace of Allah,” he remarked, praising the public’s support.
The tensions escalated after the April 22 attack in the scenic region of Pahalgam, located in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), where 26 tourists lost their lives. Without presenting any evidence, India promptly blamed Pakistan and initiated a series of cross-border provocations, including missile strikes.
Lt Gen Chaudhry emphasized that Pakistan systematically dismantled the strategies pursued by the Indian leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He detailed Pakistan’s retaliatory military response to the incidents of May 6 and 7, disclosing that Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir ordered strikes on 26 Indian sites.
The response, dubbed Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos, was launched on May 10 following India’s continued aggression. Multiple Indian military installations were targeted, resulting in significant damage. The confrontation lasted nearly 87 hours before a ceasefire was brokered by the United States, effectively ending the hostilities.
Among the notable retaliatory actions, Lt Gen Chaudhry revealed that the Indian brigade headquarters responsible for an attack that claimed the life of a 7-year-old boy in Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, was eliminated. Moreover, the Indian airbases that launched aircraft on May 6 and 7 were also destroyed.
The spokesperson underscored that the Pakistan Army acted within international norms throughout the conflict. “Did your army strike civilian infrastructure or target innocent people? No,” he stated, reaffirming that Pakistan prefers peace but remains fully capable of delivering a stronger response if provoked again.
Addressing regional terrorism, Lt Gen Chaudhry accused India of being the main orchestrator behind acts of terrorism in the region, including attacks within Pakistan. He condemned the terrorists who attack places of worship and kill innocents, asserting that such individuals neither represent Islam nor reflect the values of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or the Pashtun culture. “These terrorists are followers of India,” he stated.
He also mentioned Khargi Noorwali, a known militant, criticizing his justification for seeking assistance from non-Muslim states. “In Islam, truth and falsehood cannot coexist,” he asserted. He added, “How can one seek help from India, a country where the dignity of Kashmiri women is routinely violated?”
Regarding Afghanistan, he referred to it as a brotherly Islamic country but pointed out that the problem lies with elements within its ruling elite who accept Indian influence and use it against Pakistan. He urged Afghan authorities not to provide sanctuary to terrorists operating from their soil.
