Pakistan: A Frontline State for Global Peace

Pakistan: A Frontline State for Global Peace
(Asghar Ali Mubarak)
The history of Pakistan bears witness to the fact that it has consistently played the role of a ‘frontline state’ in the pursuit of regional and global peace. In 2026, Pakistan played a historic diplomatic role in fostering peace in the Middle East and de-escalating tensions between Iran and the United States; this effort culminated in the signing of the landmark ‘Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)’ on June 17, 2026. Through his vision and strategic acumen, the Chief of the Pakistan Army, Field Marshal Asim Munir, helped kindle the flame of peace on the global stage. However, while Pakistan strives for global peace, ‘powerful spoilers’ remain active along its western and eastern borders—forces intent on plunging the region into a state of perpetual unrest.
Shedding light on this grave situation, the Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR)—the media wing of the Pakistan Army—Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, recently gave a significant interview to the international news agency, Reuters. The DG ISPR stated unequivocally that India is the primary sponsor and patron of terrorism within Pakistan. He noted that the Afghan Taliban regime, currently in power in Afghanistan, is operating as a non-state actor—one that India is leveraging as a ‘proxy’ to further its own objectives. According to the DG ISPR, groups such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) are, in effect, instruments of India, utilized to undermine Pakistan’s security and economic stability. In this evolving landscape of warfare, terrorists are increasingly employing new technologies and drones. However, the DG ISPR has clarified that the Afghan Taliban possess no indigenous drone industry or technology; rather, these assets are being supplied to them by external sponsors—specifically, India. It is worth noting that Pakistan’s armed forces are not only fully equipped to address the demands of conventional, cyber, and modern digital warfare, but they also demonstrated their operational superiority during the Pakistan-India confrontation in May 2025, when they destroyed dozens of highly advanced Indian drones—originating from the eastern border—mid-air. The Pakistan Army’s operational readiness to counter any aggression or adventurism from across the border far surpasses the capabilities of both India and the Afghan Taliban.
A critical aspect of the current situation is that, alongside addressing these external threats, Pakistan must further strengthen its domestic policies to ensure national survival and internal security. In this regard, the Government of Pakistan’s ‘National Action Plan’ (NAP) serves as the state’s most potent instrument. Under the NAP, a zero-tolerance policy has been adopted nationwide against terrorist organizations, militant groups, and armed gangs. The primary objective of the NAP is to uproot militant networks, dismantle their financial support systems (terror financing), and eradicate hate-filled literature and ideologies.
At this delicate juncture, it is imperative that the government continues to rigorously implement the National Action Plan in its true spirit. NACTA (National Counter Terrorism Authority) should be made more effective to accelerate intelligence sharing, with the goal of completely dismantling the internal networks of anti-state elements and foreign proxies. As the DG ISPR clearly warned in a recent interview, the use of Afghan soil against Pakistan constitutes a “red line” for national security; Pakistan possesses the full capability to inflict a level of retribution upon these hostile elements that they would be unable to withstand.
Today, the entire nation stands shoulder-to-shoulder with its armed forces and the government. While Pakistan has always championed peace, any challenge to our national security will be met with decisive action—ranging from internal purges under the National Action Plan to heightened military operational readiness along the borders—to thwart every drone, every proxy, and every nefarious conspiracy. Afghanistan is currently governed by a regime effectively run by non-state actors; the Afghan Taliban administration acts as a proxy for India, employing hired militants. If the Afghan Taliban do not cease their support for terrorism within Pakistan, they will be forced to pay a heavy price. In an interview with a British news outlet yesterday, the spokesperson for the Pakistan Army, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, stated that India is the primary sponsor of terrorism in Pakistan, while the Afghan Taliban regime operates as an Indian proxy. Terrorist organizations such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) also serve as Indian proxies against Pakistan; the Afghan Taliban utilize non-state actors and mercenaries to further their own objectives. Afghanistan remains under the control of non-state actors, who have established a regime there. Following the Russian intervention in Afghanistan, various agencies and proxies established a firm foothold. International terrorist organizations—such as Jaish al-Adl, Al-Qaeda, and ISIS-Khorasan—are also present in Afghanistan. According to reports, the United Nations, the United States, and several other nations have likewise pointed to the presence of these groups within the country. It was noted that Pakistan’s sole demand of the Afghan Taliban is that they cease supporting terrorists operating inside Pakistan. Furthermore, it was alleged that the Afghan Taliban regime has provided sanctuary to terrorists such as Noor Wali, Bashir Zeb, and Gul Bahadur.
Groups responsible for carrying out terrorist acts in Pakistan originate from Afghanistan, and the weapons supplied to these terrorists are also sourced from there.In this digital age, alongside internal security efforts and military operations along the borders, fifth-generation warfare and cybercrimes have emerged as major challenges. Terrorist organizations and their external sponsors are now extensively exploiting social media to mislead impressionable minds, disseminate hate-filled literature, and commit financial fraud. To counter this threat, monitoring of cyberspace and social media has been significantly tightened under the National Action Plan. Institutions such as the National Cyber ​​Crime Investigation Authority—operating under the country’s Federal Investigation Agency—are now taking decisive legal action against the misuse of digital identities, propaganda-driven accounts, and financial fraud networks on online platforms. Furthermore, under the National Action Plan, a zero-tolerance policy has been enforced against those spreading hate speech or sectarian-based material, resulting in thousands of arrests; meanwhile, any form of glorification of terrorists on social media has been legally prohibited.
A second key pillar in this campaign for internal stability is the complete eradication of terror financing. Under the National Action Plan, banking channels are now subject to rigorous oversight, and dedicated financial investigation units have been established to dismantle illicit financial conduits, such as hawala and hundi networks. Measures such as freezing the financial assets of proscribed organizations and imposing restrictions on their bank accounts and passports have dealt a crippling blow to these terrorist elements. At this critical juncture, it is imperative that the government continues to strictly implement the National Action Plan in its true spirit. NACTA should be made more functional, and intelligence sharing must be intensified to ensure the complete dismantling of the internal networks of anti-state elements and foreign proxies. As the DG ISPR clearly warned in an interview, the use of Afghan soil against Pakistan constitutes a ‘red line’ for national security; Pakistan possesses the full capability to inflict a level of retribution upon these threatening elements that they would be unable to withstand.
Today, the entire nation stands shoulder-to-shoulder with its armed forces and the government. While Pakistan has always championed peace, any challenge to our national security will be met with a decisive response: through internal purges under the National Action Plan, rigorous cyber monitoring, and heightened military operational readiness along the borders, every enemy drone, every proxy, and every nefarious conspiracy will be reduced to dust. At this critical juncture, it is imperative that the government continues to strictly implement the National Action Plan in its true spirit. NACTA should be made more functional, and intelligence sharing must be intensified to ensure the complete dismantling of the internal networks of anti-state elements and foreign proxies. As the DG ISPR clearly warned in an interview, the use of Afghan soil against Pakistan constitutes a ‘red line’ for national security; Pakistan possesses the full capability to inflict a level of retribution upon these threatening elements that they would be unable to withstand. The nation stands shoulder-to-shoulder with its armed forces and the government. Pakistan has always championed the cause of peace; however, should our security be challenged, we will—through internal cleansing under the National Action Plan, rigorous cyber monitoring, and military operational readiness along our borders—thwart every enemy drone, every proxy, and every nefarious conspiracy. Under the National Action Plan, a zero-tolerance policy is being enforced, with indiscriminate action taken against accounts that propagate sectarianism, extremism, or hate-filled literature on social media. The promotion, support, or glorification—in any form—of proscribed organizations, terrorists, or their narratives on the internet and digital platforms is strictly prohibited by law. Furthermore, comprehensive measures are being taken to block illegal online channels used for digital fraud, crypto-scams, and terror financing that target innocent citizens. The Cyber ​​Crime Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), alongside the National Cyber ​​Crime Investigation Authority, has been specifically tasked with safeguarding Pakistan’s digital frontiers and conducting real-time monitoring of accounts engaged in propaganda. State-of-the-art digital monitoring tools are being deployed to curb the use of fake identities, harassment, and anti-state propaganda on online platforms. The primary objective of the National Action Plan is to eradicate terrorism, extremism, and militancy from Pakistan and to ensure the restoration of the state’s writ at all costs. This comprehensive national strategy encompasses neutralizing foreign-backed proxies, dismantling the financial networks of terrorists (terror financing), and curbing hate-filled propaganda on the internet and social media. Furthermore, the plan focuses on strengthening the country’s internal peace and border defense by enhancing intelligence sharing through institutions such as NACTA (National Counter Terrorism Authority).
The use of Afghan soil against Pakistan constitutes a clear “red line” for national security, aimed at undermining Pakistan’s internal peace and economic stability. Pakistan’s military leadership—specifically the Director General of the ISPR, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry—has explicitly stated that this cross-border terrorism has evolved into a grave crisis for regional peace. Groups such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) are utilizing Afghan territory as a safe haven to launch operations against Pakistan, benefiting from full financial and logistical support provided by India.Terrorist groups operating under Afghan patronage are now employing advanced military technology and drones against Pakistan—equipment supplied by external sponsors. Under the National Action Plan, Pakistan’s armed forces and government have made it clear that the Afghan Taliban regime must dismantle the terrorist networks present on its soil; otherwise, Pakistan possesses the full operational capability to go to any lengths to secure its borders and deliver a severe retaliatory response. According to Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory—including the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA)—are acting as Indian proxies against Pakistan. These militant groups have established safe havens on Afghan soil, from which they launch terrorist operations along Pakistan’s borders. They possess advanced military technology and drones which, as the DG ISPR noted, are not products of their own manufacturing but have been provided by external sponsors—namely, India. In addition to these groups, other non-state actors—such as the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), Al-Qaeda, and Daesh-Khorasan—are also present in Afghanistan, posing a significant threat to regional security. Pakistan’s military and political leadership, under the National Action Plan (NAP), has explicitly stated that the Afghan Taliban regime’s provision of sanctuary to these groups constitutes a “red line” regarding national security; Pakistan remains fully capable of taking the most stringent retaliatory measures to address this threat.