Speaking at the year-end press conference, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, provided a comprehensive overview of the critical challenges facing Pakistan and the military’s perspective on ongoing developments.

As expected from such a pivotal briefing at the close of a tumultuous year, several significant points emerged, the most pressing being the alarming surge in terrorist activities. It was disclosed that in 2024 alone, Pakistan endured 1,200 terrorist attacks, resulting in over 2,000 fatalities, including 383 military personnel, despite ongoing counter-terrorism operations.

This staggering figure underscores the grim reality: Pakistan is under siege by what amounts to a coordinated military campaign led by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). While Lt. Gen. Chaudhry’s subsequent remarks on the TTP’s resurgence sparked sharp criticism from opposition parties, devolving into a blame game over timelines and policies, it is imperative that all stakeholders resist the urge to dwell on past missteps. Neither the military, the political class, the media, nor any entity engaged with this crisis can afford to lose sight of the overarching threat at hand.

The focus must now shift towards unified action. Pakistan’s foremost priority should be the eradication of the TTP, as this menace poses the gravest challenge to national security. In this context, Lt. Gen. Chaudhry’s comments on the Kurram region were also noteworthy. He emphasized the importance of a civilian-led resolution to the escalating violence there, linking the unrest to a protracted tribal land dispute rather than sectarianism or terrorism, which often characterise conflicts in the surrounding areas.

That said, the sectarian undertones in Parachinar cannot be ignored. The path to stability in this region, as in others, lies in addressing Pakistan’s broader security challenges. Improvements in national security will undoubtedly have ripple effects, fostering peace not only in Kurram and Parachinar but also in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and beyond.

While debates surrounding military court proceedings will likely persist, the key takeaway from this press conference is clear: combating terrorism must remain the nation’s paramount objective.