India using state-sponsored terrorism to destabilise Pakistan: DG ISPR

Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has issued a strong condemnation of India’s alleged involvement in recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan, accusing New Delhi of adopting state-sponsored terrorism as official policy to destabilise the country.

In a wide-ranging interview with Al Jazeera TV, Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif reacted to the deadly bombing in Waziristan last month, which killed 16 Pakistani soldiers and injured more than 20.

The attack was claimed by the banned militant group “Fitna Al-Khawarij”, a name used for splinter factions of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

The DG ISPR linked India’s activities, especially in Balochistan, to a broader conspiracy aimed at undermining Pakistan’s stability.

He claimed that Ajit Doval, India’s National Security Advisor, is the mastermind behind a global terror network, and that even countries such as the United States and Canada have acknowledged India’s role in orchestrating state-backed terrorism abroad.

Lt Gen Sharif described “Fitna Al-Khawarij” as a manifestation of a perverse ideology that promotes violence under the guise of religion. He firmly stated that, in Islam, only the state has the authority to declare jihad or military action, dismissing the legitimacy of such groups and their justifications for violence.

Read more: 'Military shouldn't be dragged into political matters': DG ISPR

He also used the term “Fitna Al-Hindustan”, a phrase commonly used in Pakistan to describe Indian-backed terrorist proxies, particularly those active in Balochistan.

He alleged that Indian political and intelligence leadership has openly admitted to supporting such networks—both financially and strategically—which, he warned, poses a serious threat to regional peace.

During the interview, the DG ISPR also reaffirmed Pakistan’s diplomatic support for Iran amid recent Israeli military aggression, underscoring Islamabad’s stance on regional solidarity.

Reiterating Pakistan’s defence posture, he said: “Pakistan’s nuclear program is completely secure. No one can dare target our nuclear assets. We are a responsible and declared nuclear power.”

The interview, described by Al Jazeera TV as a direct response to the Waziristan bombing, reflects Pakistan’s growing concern over India’s alleged use of militant proxies to fuel unrest within its borders.