Indian defense officials, speaking to CNN-News18, have attributed the rising discontentment in the Pakistan Army as one potential explanation behind recent violent activity in the country. The analysis was made based on a press conference on April 29, 2025, by Pakistan Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Choudhary.
During that press briefing, the ISPR spokesman blamed India for “state-sponsored cross-border terrorism,” alleging that Indian troops were involved in attacks in Pakistan. He accused the arrest of a Pakistani national who was employed by the Indian Army and claimed that Pakistani security officials were aware of the names of soldiers involved in those operations.
Reacting to these allegations, Indian defence sources labeled the charges as false. “In his 29 April 2025 press conference the DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Choudhary has invented a new word for India – ‘state sponsored cross border terrorism’. ISPR is always excellent in inventing words. The General seemed so uncandid because he realized that whatever he was saying was riddled with lies, deceit and deception,” sources stated on Wednesday.
They also went on to posit that internal fractures within Pakistan’s military establishment could be the reason behind some of the unrest. A considerable proportion of Pakistan Army officers and soldiers are said to be unhappy with both the military command and civilian government, and this might be creating instability from within.
Highlighting the differences between the two nations’ armed forces, Indian sources noted, “While the Indian Army is a national force representing diverse regions and communities, the Pakistan Army is often seen as a regional army, primarily led by Punjabi officers.” This imbalance, they added, has contributed to a feeling of marginalisation among officers from other provinces, potentially leading to internal rebellion or disloyalty.
Terming the recent Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were killed, the sources reiterated Pakistan’s support for terrorism. They claimed that the military and intelligence agency of Pakistan, ISI, was well rooted in such activities.
The reference to a Special Services Group (SSG) commando by the name of Musa, who is now a prime suspect in the probe, has reportedly sent panic through the Pakistani army, and thus the ISPR’s emergency press conference.
Indian officials have already presented credible evidence of Pakistani citizens and military-trained operatives’ involvement in the Pahalgam attack, but Islamabad has done nothing about it, the sources further added.
