DG ISPR: Pakistan 'much ahead' of Afghan Taliban, India in operational readiness

Pakistan is ahead of both the Afghan Taliban and India in terms of operational readiness and is adapting its military capabilities to emerging forms of warfare, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said.

In an interview with Reuters, the military spokesperson expressed confidence in Pakistan's ability to counter threats posed by drones and other emerging technologies.

Asked whether Pakistan was concerned about the Afghan Taliban's growing use of drones, particularly in view of their deployment in conflicts in the Middle East, Lt Gen Chaudhry said: “It's a narrow thing that I'll be worried about the drones being used by Afghanistan.”

He said the Afghan Taliban did not possess independent military capabilities and relied on those provided by their sponsors. He also described the group as a proxy of India, “biggest terror sponsor”.

Referring to the May 2025 conflict with India, the DG ISPR said Pakistan had shot down dozens of sophisticated drones launched from across the eastern border. “So those drones, wherever they were, turned them into dust everywhere. That was about two years ago. So we are much ahead where we stand in our own operational readiness,” he said.

He said the Pakistan Army was adjusting to changes in the nature of warfare through a “very professional, well-thought-out” approach.

The military was preparing for both contact and non-contact warfare, including operations involving cyber capabilities, drones and long-range missions, he added.

Lt Gen Chaudhry also warned that the spread of non-contact warfare capabilities among non-state actors, including the Afghan Taliban, Khawarij and Houthis, posed a wider security challenge.

He said states would have to reassess their security arrangements in response to these emerging threats.

Asked whether Pakistan used artificial intelligence to identify targets in Afghanistan, he declined to disclose operational details but said the military could and should use AI, quantum technology, cyber capabilities and other emerging technologies.

He added, “we are a technology-savvy army.”