Talal Chaudhry Claims Similar Pattern in PTI, Kashmir Protests
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry says fresh arrests and phone-call evidence have emerged during investigations, while alleging similarities between recent protest patterns and questioning possible links involving proxy networks and political actors.
ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Sunday raised serious concerns over what he described as the growing use of proxy networks to destabilise Pakistan, while saying that ongoing investigations had resulted in further arrests and the emergence of new phone-call evidence.
Addressing a press conference, Chaudhry alleged that illegally smuggled weapons originating from a neighbouring country were entering Pakistan and being used by different groups to create instability. He said investigators were examining new information, including phone calls that had surfaced during the probe.
JAAC, PTI Protest Patterns Compared
The minister of state also drew parallels between the protest pattern of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s protest activity. He claimed that the timing and pattern of the two movements raised questions that required further investigation.
According to Chaudhry, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi would separately explain why prolonged negotiations with PTI had not succeeded and would present what the government described as the complete facts and background surrounding the matter.
Chaudhry further accused the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government of exploiting the province’s security situation for political advantage, claiming it had failed to fulfil its constitutional, democratic and legal responsibilities. These allegations represent the federal government’s position and were not independently established during the press conference.
Discussing Azad Jammu and Kashmir, he claimed that JAAC had issued its protest call on the same day as PTI’s planned long march. He also said the people of AJK had previously rejected calls for strikes and electoral boycotts by participating in the democratic process.
Claims of Foreign Involvement
The minister of state alleged that hostile elements wanted to portray conditions in Azad Kashmir as comparable with those in Indian-administered Kashmir and described the developments as more than an ordinary political movement.
Chaudhry further alleged that a neighbouring country had increased investment in proxy networks following setbacks in recent years and that training camps and hideouts across Pakistan’s western border were being used to facilitate destabilising activities.
He claimed that some elements were exploiting religious terminology for financial gain and said alleged safe havens and training facilities across the western border remained a significant security concern.
JIT Probe and Alleged Political Links
Referring to the ongoing JIT-related investigation, Chaudhry said questions about a possible nexus among proxy networks, political parties and individuals were natural in light of information emerging from the probe.
He posed the question of whether political actors were using proxies for their objectives or whether proxy networks were exploiting political actors, but did not publicly present conclusive evidence establishing such a nexus during the remarks cited.
The claims concerning foreign involvement, proxy networks and political links remain allegations made by the minister of state and should be assessed in light of further evidence, official investigations and responses from the parties concerned.
