Corps Commanders' Conference Backs Action Against Terrorism From Afghanistan
Corps Commanders' Conference on 2 October 2026 backed action against terrorism from Afghanistan, resented Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and warned on unrest.
The Corps Commanders' Conference met in Rawalpindi on Friday 2 October 2026 and affirmed Pakistan's right to self-defence and to targeted action against terrorism coming from Afghanistan. It also "strongly resented" Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and warned against any repeat of a "9th May like situation".
Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the Army Chief and Chief of Defence Forces, chaired the meeting. We read the full statement as Radio Pakistan, the state broadcaster, published it on 2 October. The military's own media wing, ISPR, issues these statements, but its website blocked our reader, so we could not open the original there.
The meeting came a day after Pakistan said its air strikes on terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan killed 22 terrorists on 1 October.
The conference backed targeted action against terrorism from Afghanistan
The forum affirmed Pakistan's right to self-defence and to targeted action against terrorism coming from Afghanistan. It said the Taliban leadership, which it accused of facilitating terrorism on behalf of India, bears responsibility for the consequences.
The statement did not name any new operation. It gave no new figures for the 1 October strikes and no place names in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan's Taliban administration has said those strikes killed nine civilians in Kunar and Helmand. Pakistan says it hit only terrorist hideouts. Neither side's figures have been independently checked, and the conference statement did not address the Afghan claim.
The forum also reviewed the security situation and resolved to keep a high state of readiness. It praised intelligence-based operations by law enforcement agencies.
It said military action should be matched by non-military steps. These include better local governance, closer contact with the public, breaking links between terrorists and criminal groups, and building police capacity. It tied these to the National Action Plan and Azm-e-Istehkam, the government's counter-terrorism campaign.
The forum warned against a 9th May like situation
The conference stressed internal stability. It said any attempt to cause agitation or create a "9th May like situation", on any pretext, will be dealt with by decisive force and the rule of law, without hesitation and without discrimination.
The phrase refers to 9 May 2023. On that day, after the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan, protesters attacked military buildings in several cities.
The statement did not name any party, group or planned event. We have not added a link between this warning and any political event, because the statement itself makes none.
The conference backed Saudi Arabia after Houthi attacks
The conference welcomed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye. It said the pact adds to long-standing defence ties between the three countries.
It "strongly resented" Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia. It expressed solidarity with the Kingdom and affirmed Pakistan's commitment to the security and sanctity of the Haramain Sharifain, the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah.
The statement did not name a specific attack. Earlier the same day, Pakistan's Foreign Office condemned a Houthi drone attack on a Madinah power station that supplies the Prophet's Mosque. Saudi Arabia says that attack took place on 29 September.
The three countries signed the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement in Makkah on 7 August 2026. Official statements say an armed attack on any one of them will be treated as an attack on all three.
| Date | Event | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| 29 September 2026 | Houthi drone attack on a power station in Madinah | Saudi authorities |
| 1 October 2026 | Pakistan announces air strikes on terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan | Ministry of Information |
| 1 October 2026 | Taliban administration says nine civilians were killed | Afghan state news agency |
| 2 October 2026 | Foreign Office condemns the Madinah attack | Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
| 2 October 2026 | Corps Commanders' Conference meets in Rawalpindi | Military statement, via Radio Pakistan |
The Field Marshal told commanders to keep strengthening operations
In his closing remarks, the Field Marshal praised the formations for their preparedness and professionalism. He gave three directions.
- Keep strengthening intelligence-based operations.
- Improve combat capability through modern technology and training.
- Build "multi-domain integration", a military term for joining up forces across land, air, sea and cyber space.
He said the armed forces, with the nation's support, remain fully prepared to protect Pakistan's sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security. He holds the post of Chief of Defence Forces together with that of Army Chief.
The conference also restated Pakistan's position on Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. It backed a solution under UN Security Council resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people. The forum offered Fateha for members of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and civilians who lost their lives.
What the statement does not tell you
Corps Commanders' Conference statements set out the army's position. They are not laws, and they do not by themselves announce new operations or rules for the public.
This statement gave no casualty figures, no dates for any future action and no names of groups beyond the Taliban leadership.
For ordinary people, nothing changes today. No travel rule, curfew or border notice came with the statement. If one is issued, it will come from the government or the district administration, not from this meeting.
Common questions
When and where was the Corps Commanders' Conference held?
In Rawalpindi on Friday 2 October 2026, chaired by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.
What did the conference say about Afghanistan?
It affirmed Pakistan's right to self-defence and targeted action against terrorism coming from Afghanistan, and blamed the Taliban leadership for the consequences.
What did it say about Saudi Arabia?
It strongly resented Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, expressed solidarity with the Kingdom and backed the security of the two holy mosques.
What does "9th May like situation" mean?
It refers to 9 May 2023, when military buildings were attacked after Imran Khan's arrest. The forum said any such attempt will be met with decisive force.
Did the conference announce a new military operation?
No. The statement announced no new operation and gave no new casualty figures.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 2 October 2026. Every point from the conference is taken from the statement as published by Radio Pakistan on 2 October 2026. The ISPR website blocked our reader, so we could not compare it with the original release there. The dates of the Madinah attack, the air strikes and the Afghan claim are from our earlier reports, each sourced to the official bodies named in the table. We have not added any claim that the statement does not make.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
