During the recent India-Pakistan conflict, the most prominent face on the Pakistani side was Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry. A three-star general, he currently serves as the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG-ISPR), the media and communication wing of the Pakistani military.
The nexus between the Pakistani army and terrorist groups is no longer a secret. Any remaining doubts were dispelled when images of Hafiz Abdur Rauf surfaced, revealing deep military sympathies for slain terrorists. Pakistani army officers were even seen shedding tears at the funerals of terrorists. In response to India’s decisive anti-terror operations, the Pakistani military was so rattled that it nearly escalated the situation into a full-blown war.
High-ranking officers in the Pakistani army are known to have direct associations with terrorists. Among the most striking revelations is the background of Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry himself. His father, Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood, was listed as a terrorist by the United Nations and the United States. Notably, he was also considered a close associate of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
According to media reports, Bashiruddin Mahmood was originally a nuclear scientist. However, his career took a dark turn when he became increasingly inclined towards radical Islamist ideologies. In 1999, he founded an organization called Ummah Tameer-e-Nau, which was later banned by the U.S. in 2001. The United Nations also listed Mahmood as a global terrorist, recognizing the severe threat he posed.
Mahmood is believed to have played a crucial role in developing Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities. His proximity to Osama bin Laden and involvement in nuclear science raised significant alarms in the West—especially in the United States. The possibility of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda became a global concern. Following the 9/11 attacks in 2001, the U.S. designated Mahmood as a terrorist.
Reports suggest that Bashiruddin Mahmood provided substantial support to both Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, assisting them with logistics, weapons, and operational planning. He was considered Osama bin Laden’s right-hand man in matters of infrastructure and strategy. In 2001, he reportedly met with Taliban chief Mullah Omar. One of bin Laden’s aides even confirmed that Al-Qaeda possessed nuclear material and intended to work with Mahmood to develop nuclear weapons. Mahmood allegedly gave them guidance on the necessary infrastructure for such a program.
Though Mahmood later receded from public life, he is believed to still reside in Islamabad. His past, however, continues to cast a long shadow—especially as his son now holds one of the most prominent positions in Pakistan’s military communication apparatus.
The troubling legacy of terror-linked figures within Pakistan’s military and scientific elite remains a critical concern for global security.