• Corps commanders’ conference notes India doubling down to ‘further its nefarious agenda’
• Field Marshal Munir blasts New Delhi for ‘invoking third parties’ in bilateral confrontation

ISLAMABAD: The military brass on Thursday asserted that it was imperative to take “decisive and holistic actions at all levels against the Indian-backed and sponsored proxies”, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement.

“Following its manifest defeat in direct aggression against Pakistan, post Pahalgam incident, India is now doubling down to further its nefarious agenda through its proxies of Fitna al-Khawarij and Fitna al-Hindustan,” the statement read after the Corps Commanders’ Conference held at the General Headquarters.

A day earlier, ISPR Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry labelled Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval as the chief architect of terrorism in Pakistan, and spoke of Indian support for terrorist groups in Pakistan.

The meeting, chaired by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, took stock of recent successes against terrorism. The forum resolved that the blood of the martyrs would not go in vain and that the safety and security of the people of Pakistan would remain the top priority for the Armed Forces of Pakistan.

Taking note of Indian Army’s insinuations to offset its comprehensive defeat in the conflict with Pakistan in May this year, the army chief stated, “Invoking third parties in what is unmistakably a bilateral military confrontation reflects a disingenuous attempt at bloc politics aimed at falsely projecting India’s self-assigned role as a net security provider to accrue benefits in a region that is visibly growing disillusioned with Indian hegemonic ambitions and Hindutva-driven extremism.”

The India-Pakistan conflict, triggered by the April 22 militant attack in Pahalgam, escalated into a four-day military confrontation in May involving missile strikes, drone warfare, and airstrikes. This marked a dangerous turning point between the two nuclear-armed neighbours and raised serious fears of nuclear escalation.

The forum also discussed the Iran-Israel war that lasted over a week. The US and Israel had launched airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June to neutralise its nuclear programme. The 12-day conflict underscored a broader global trend of states increasingly resorting to preemptive and retaliatory military action to address perceived threats.

Reflecting on these developments during the Corps Commanders Conference, the generals noted the growing use of force as a policy tool. The forum conducted a review of the prevailing internal and external security dynamics, with particular emphasis on the recent developments in the Middle East and Iran and growing propensity for ‘use of force’ as a preferred policy tool, which warrants persistent development of self-reliant capabilities as well as national unity and resolve.

The army chief also shared the details of Pakistan’s successful diplomatic manoeuvre, including recent visits to Iran, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, where the COAS accompanied Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The forum was also briefed on the visit of COAS Munir to the US, where meetings with top-tier leadership afforded an opportunity to share, first hand, Pakistan’s objective perspective on bilateral, regional and extra-regional developments.

The forum was briefed on Pakistan’s Army’s ongoing drive with quick adaptation towards evolving threat spectrum and the changing character of war. The COAS also appreciated the leadership of the Pakistan Navy and the Pakistan Air Force for further strengthening tri-services synergy.

In his concluding remarks, the army chief expressed full confidence in the operational readiness of the Pakistan Army against the complete threat spectrum.

In July last year, the government designated the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as Fitna al-Khawarij, while mandating all institutions to use the term khariji (outcast) when referring to the perpetrators of terrorist attacks on Pakistan. In May this year, the government designated all terrorist organisations in Balochistan as Fitna al-Hindustan — a new phrase aimed at framing India’s role in terrorism as a deliberate destabilisation strategy, potentially to galvanise domestic support.

Published in Dawn, July 11th, 2025