Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Thursday denied speculation that the government is considering a fresh military offensive to curb resurgent terrorism.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he said the option for a full-scale military operation was not discussed during an in-camera security briefing earlier this week. However, he said, Vision Azm-e-Istehkam and the National Action Plan would be implemented in full to eradicate terrorism.
Reacting to a recent statement by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in which he had claimed the province would not “allow” a new offensive, Chaudhry alleged the remarks had sought to create needless controversy. Describing the statement as “deeply concerning,” he claimed its true purpose appeared undermining the war on terror.
Calling on Gandapur and the PTI to not stand with terrorists, he alleged that the chief minister had even directed police to avoid stringent action against terrorists as this had previously led to a decline in popularity of the PPP and ANP in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Blaming the PTI for the current wave of terrorism, Chaudhry reiterated that militants were allowed to resettle in the country during its tenure in the federal government.
The minister noted the PTI had refused to attend the parliamentary briefing despite a spike in terrorist threats across the country, particularly Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. Describing incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan as the “patron-in-chief of terrorists,” he emphasized that it took the PTI founder nearly a week to condemn the Jaffar Express hijacking.
Noting the PTI had been ruling Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for 13 years, he said it had failed to build the capacity of the provincial police and the Counter-Terrorism Department, questioning where money intended for security was spent. He also criticized the Levies forces in Balochistan, alleging it had poor attendance and had failed to ensure peace in restive areas.
Terror Stats
During the press conference, the minister said Pakistan was experiencing nine terrorist attacks daily. From Jan. 1 to March 16, he said, 1,141 people had either lost their lives or sustained injuries in attacks, adding that 1,127 of these victims were from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa or Balochistan.
Chaudhry said there was a 30 percent rise in terrorism in February 2025 compared to the same month the year prior, adding 95 percent of all attacks occurred in Balochistan and KP. “If KP and Balochistan are not ready to fight, how can we end the menace of terrorism,” he asked.
“The provinces will have to fight this war in the same way the Army and the federal government are fighting it,” he said, stressing the state had decided the war would be fought with or without their cooperation. “Our security forces are alert, and they are conducting around 180 intelligence-based operations daily and they are arresting suspects,” he said.
To a question on Imran Khan’s call for dialogue with militants, the minister said talks could only proceed if they first laid down their arms.