Islamabad: Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations, today emphasized that the Azm-e-Istehkam campaign, aimed at eradicating terrorism, was developed through national consensus. Speaking at a news conference in Rawalpindi, he addressed concerns about attempts to controversialize the initiative by elements with vested interests.
According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Chaudhry outlined that Azm-e-Istehkam is an extension of the revised National Action Plan, initiated after achieving broad political consensus. This comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy integrates multiple domains to dismantle the terror-crime nexus and strengthen security to foster economic growth. The campaign includes energizing intelligence-based kinetic operations that have already proven effective this year, with significant terrorist casualties and law enforcement sacrifices.
Highlighting the progress under the campaign, the DG ISPR reported that 22,409 intelligence-based operations were conducted this year, resulting in 398 terrorists being neutralized and 137 law enforcement personnel martyred. He also noted the need for enhancing the capabilities of Counter-Terrorism Departments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan and regulating seminaries across the country.
Furthermore, Chaudhry commented on issues related to non-customs paid vehicles and smuggling, which he described as facilitating terrorist operations. He criticized the double standards regarding border security with Afghanistan, advocating for a more regulated approach to support legal trade and security measures. In response to a question about online misinformation, Chaudhry called for stricter regulations to counteract what he termed “digital terrorists” aiming to undermine public trust in the armed forces.