Islamabad, September 14, 2025 – In a series of scathing posts on X (formerly Twitter), former Pakistani army major and vocal critic Adil Raja has lambasted the military establishment for its handling of the resurgent Taliban insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), warning that ongoing failures could lead to catastrophic losses rivaling the 1971 war. Raja’s commentary comes amid reports of at least 19 soldiers killed in two Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attacks in less than 24 hours—12 in South Waziristan and seven in Lower Dir—highlighting a sharp uptick in violence that has claimed over 2,500 security personnel lives since 2022.
Raja, who goes by @soldierspeaks on X, described the slain soldiers not as “martyrs” but as victims of a “mercenary force” driven by salaries rather than conviction, questioning the efficacy of repeated military operations like Operation Zarb-e-Azb under Gen. Raheel Sharif and Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad under Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa. “If previous operations succeeded, why another one now?” he asked in one post, arguing that political grievances, not just bullets, fuel the insurgency. He criticized the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) for propaganda videos celebrating “successes” while the ground reality shows Pakistan losing control over its own territory.
The attacks, which also left multiple soldiers severely wounded, underscore the fragility of Pakistan’s security apparatus. Raja pointed to the military’s alleged complicity in the drug trade funding ISIS affiliates, expelled from Afghanistan but now operating from Pakistani soil to counter Baloch insurgents and Afghan interests. He urged the international community to recognize the Taliban-led Afghan government at the UN to combat terrorism and narcotics collaboratively, rather than allowing Pakistan’s “duplicitous” generals to exploit the chaos.
Raja’s posts also tie the unrest to broader failures, including Pakistan’s drop to 144th in the 2025 Global Peace Index. As Gen. Asim Munir’s tenure extension looms, Raja warned that without addressing root political issues—such as the disputed 2024 elections and Imran Khan’s imprisonment—the death toll could surpass 1971’s losses. “Military solutions for political problems are impossible,” he asserted, calling for genuine dialogue over force.
This surge in militancy not only strains Pakistan’s resources but also risks regional spillover, with Afghanistan’s intelligence chief recently warning of expanding terrorist threats from a “neighboring country.” Raja’s outspoken critique, blending insider military knowledge with journalistic fervor, has resonated widely, amassing thousands of engagements and amplifying calls for accountability amid a nation on edge.
