Speaking to Reuters, the military spokesperson said Pakistan was prepared to respond to threats originating from Afghan territory, including those involving drones.
“Whatever they want to send, they can; they may try. We have the capability to take them on,” he said.
He added that the Afghan Taliban lacked the capacity to withstand the consequences of a Pakistani response.
Chaudhry was responding to a question about the potential threat posed by drones operated by the Afghan Taliban and whether Pakistan could face challenges similar to those experienced elsewhere in the region.
He said the Afghan Taliban's drone capabilities were not developed locally and alleged that the technology was being supplied by external sponsors.
The ISPR chief also accused India of being Pakistan's biggest sponsor of terrorism, alleging that the Afghan Taliban and militant groups operating against Pakistan were acting as Indian proxies.
Referring to the previous military confrontation between Pakistan and India, he said New Delhi had deployed dozens of sophisticated drones, which Pakistan had successfully intercepted.
“We turned them into dust everywhere,” he said, adding that Pakistan had since further strengthened its operational readiness.
'There will be a cost'
Chaudhry accused the Afghan Taliban authorities of sheltering militant leaders and allowing armed groups to operate from Afghan territory against Pakistan.
He said Islamabad was not seeking to isolate Afghanistan and remained willing to engage with Kabul. However, he called on the Afghan Taliban to act as a responsible state and prevent militant groups from using its territory to launch attacks.
“We only ask you that don't support terrorism inside Pakistan. Stop harbouring the terrorist leaders,” he said.
The ISPR DG alleged that militant groups were entering Pakistan from Afghanistan and receiving weapons there. He also claimed that Afghan nationals and members of the Taliban regime had been found among groups involved in attacks inside Pakistan.
“If you do it, then there will be a cost,” he warned, adding that Pakistan had the capability and a clear strategy to respond.
He further alleged that Afghanistan was providing an environment in which multiple militant organisations could operate. He rejected claims that Pakistan was hosting or coordinating groups opposed to the Afghan Taliban.
'Afghanistan producing terrorism and drugs'
Rejecting the idea of isolating Afghanistan, Chaudhry said regional countries and the international community should engage with the Taliban authorities and press them to prevent militant activity.
“What Afghanistan is producing right now, it has only two products: terrorism and drugs,” he said, describing both as threats to regional and international security.
He said Pakistan had no intention of deciding how Afghanistan should be governed, adding that the country's political future was for the Afghan people to determine.
However, he stressed that no state could tolerate armed groups, militias or mercenaries operating from its territory.
Pakistan Army adapting to new technologies
Discussing changes in modern warfare, the ISPR chief said the Pakistan Army was strengthening its capabilities to deal with emerging threats, including drones, cyber operations and other forms of non-contact warfare.
He said the growing availability of such technologies to non-state actors required countries to reassess their security arrangements.
Asked whether the military used artificial intelligence to identify targets in Afghanistan, Chaudhry declined to provide operational details.
He said the army was using a range of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum technology and cyber capabilities.
“We are a technology-savvy army,” he said.
