ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top generals called for “concrete and tangible actions” against militants by the Taliban administration in Kabul on Tuesday, while vowing to take all necessary measures to defend the country’s territorial integrity amid a surge in violence by armed groups in its two western provinces in recent years.
Pakistan’s northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), which borders Afghanistan, and the southwestern province of Balochistan, which shares frontiers with both Afghanistan and Iran, have witnessed rising militant and separatist violence. Most attacks in KP are claimed by the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella alliance of militant groups.
Islamabad has frequently accused Afghanistan of sheltering anti-Pakistan groups, particularly the TTP, which the Pakistani government refers to as “Fitna Al Khawarij,” saying that these militants launch cross-border attacks from Afghan soil. Kabul denies the allegations, insisting that Afghanistan does not allow its territory to be used against any country.
Pakistan’s overall security situation was reviewed during the 267th Corps Commanders’ Conference, held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and chaired by Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.
“Expressing grave concern over the continued use of Afghan soil by Fitna Al Khawarij for terrorist activities against Pakistan, the forum stressed the imperative of concrete and tangible actions by the Interim Afghan Government against Fitna Al Khawarij instead of denials, as well as continuing with the strategy of undertaking all necessary measures in defense of Pakistan and its people,” the ISPR said.
The conference also emphasized the need to accelerate people-centric socio-economic development initiatives in Balochistan, while countering “externally driven narratives of exclusion” in the region.
A key strategic province and home to the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Balochistan has long grappled with separatist violence led by groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and its affiliates.
These insurgents have carried out coordinated attacks, suicide bombings and targeted killings, primarily against the Pakistani military, Chinese workers and non-Baloch settlers, particularly from Punjab.
The violence has often been linked to grievances over political marginalization and resource control, though Pakistani officials have denied these claims while saying they are carrying out major projects to improve the quality of life and livelihood of people.
“No one will be allowed to disrupt peace in Balochistan, and nefarious designs of foreign-sponsored proxies attempting to mislead and radicalize the youth of Balochistan will be decisively thwarted with the unwavering support of the people of Balochistan,” the statement added.
The top army generals also discussed the situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary with India, condemning “human rights violations” in Indian-administered Kashmir and recent statements by Indian military leadership against Pakistan that they termed “reckless and provocative.”
“Pakistan Army remains fully prepared to defend the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” General Munir told the gathering.
“These hollow statements from the Indian military are indicative of their growing frustration and serve only to divert the attention of their masses and the international community from their multiple internal fissures and blatant violations of human rights,” he added. “Any misadventure against Pakistan will be responded to with full and resolute force of the state.”
The corps commanders’ conference also reaffirmed the military’s commitment to its constitutional responsibilities and pledged to continue military training and exercises in both conventional and counter-terrorism domains.
Pakistan’s top generals seek ‘concrete’ action from Afghanistan against Taliban militants
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Pakistan’s top generals seek ‘concrete’ action from Afghanistan against Taliban militants
- Corps commanders call statements by Indian military leaders against Pakistan ‘reckless and provocative’
- They seek socio-economic development of Balochistan to thwart ‘externally driven narratives of exclusion’
Pakistan’s OGDC ramps up unconventional gas plans
- Pakistan has long been viewed as having potential in tight and shale gas but commercial output has yet to be proved
- OGDC says has tripled tight-gas study area to 4,500 square km after new seismic, reservoir analysis indicates potential
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s state-run Oil & Gas Development Company is planning a major expansion of unconventional gas developments from early next year, aiming to boost production and reduce reliance on imported liquefied natural gas.
Pakistan has long been viewed as having potential in both tight and shale gas, which are trapped in rock and can only be released with specialized drilling, but commercial output has yet to be proved.
Managing Director Ahmed Lak told Reuters that OGDC had tripled its tight-gas study area to 4,500 square kilometers (1,737 square miles) after new seismic and reservoir analysis indicated larger potential. Phase two of a technical evaluation will finish by end-January, followed by full development plans.
The renewed push comes after US President Donald Trump said Pakistan held “massive” oil reserves in July, a statement analysts said lacked credible geological evidence, but which prompted Islamabad to underscore that it is pursuing its own efforts to unlock unconventional resources.
“We started with 85 wells, but the footprint has expanded massively,” Lak said, adding that OGDC’s next five-year plan would look “drastically different.”
Early results point to a “significant” resource across parts of Sindh and Balochistan, where multiple reservoirs show tight-gas characteristics, he said.
SHALE PILOT RAMPS UP
OGDC is also fast-tracking its shale program, shifting from a single test well to a five- to six-well plan in 2026–27, with expected flows of 3–4 million standard cubic feet per day (mmcfd) per well.
If successful, the development could scale to hundreds or even more than 1,000 wells, Lak said.
He said shale alone could eventually add 600 mmcfd to 1 billion standard cubic feet per day of incremental supply, though partners would be needed if the pilot proves viable.
The company is open to partners “on a reciprocal basis,” potentially exchanging acreage abroad for participation in Pakistan, he said.
A 2015 US Energy Information Administration study estimated Pakistan had 9.1 billion barrels of technically recoverable shale oil, the largest such resource outside China and the United States.
A 2022 assessment found parts of the Indus Basin geologically comparable to North American shale plays, though analysts say commercial viability still hinges on better geomechanical data, expanded fracking capacity and water availability.
OGDC plans to begin drilling a deep-water offshore well in the Indus Basin, known as the Deepal prospect, in the fourth quarter of 2026, Lak said. In October, Turkiye’s TPAO with PPL and its consortium partners, including OGDC, were awarded a block for offshore exploration.
A combination of weak gas demand, rising solar uptake and a rigid LNG import schedule has created a surplus of gas that forced OGDC to curb output and pushed Pakistan to divert cargoes from Italy’s ENI and seek revised terms with Qatar.
