Pakistan Government Disputes Claims of Daesh-K Presence in Punjab
Daesh-K presence in Punjab is covered in the report below.
The Government of Pakistan has formally dismissed allegations made by former U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, regarding the presence of Daesh-Khorasan (Daesh-K) in the Punjab prov
The Government of Pakistan has formally dismissed allegations made by former U.S. Special Envoy for Afghanistan, Zalmay Khalilzad, regarding the presence of Daesh-Khorasan (Daesh-K) in the Punjab province. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued a statement refuting Khalilzad's claims, emphasizing that they misrepresent the circumstances surrounding a recent criminal incident.
Daesh-K presence in Punjab: Clarification on Incident Involving Daesh-K Commander
On November 16, 2025, Khalilzad posted a message on social media platform X, stating, "Good news from Pakistan: Reportedly a senior [Daesh]-K commander Burhan, also known as Zaid, was killed in Patak part of Akhtarabad city in Punjab." This post suggested a link between the incident and a counter-terrorism operation.
The Ministry's official fact-checking account quickly corrected Khalilzad, asserting that the event in question occurred on March 5 in Habibabad, Kasur, in a context unrelated to terrorism. They provided a copy of the First Information Report (FIR) registered at the Saddar Patoki police station, dated March 6, to substantiate their claims. The Ministry clarified that Burhan's death resulted from either a robbery-related incident or a personal dispute, and there was no evidence to suggest his affiliation with Daesh.
No Evidence of Daesh in Punjab
The Ministry's statement emphasized that credible security assessments indicate no Daesh elements are currently operating in Punjab. Furthermore, they stressed that the categorization of this incident as a terrorist act distort the facts. "Khalilzad's post twists a purely criminal or personal dispute into a terrorism-linked killing, creating a false impression of ISKP activity in Punjab," the Ministry concluded, reaffirming the absence of any connection to organized terror groups.
The Ministry's response highlights a commitment to transparency and accuracy in reporting security issues, aiming to prevent misinformation from undermining public safety and confidence.
