- DG ISPR says over 70 IBOs being conducted on average to stem out wave of terrorism
- Says Armed Forces fully prepared for befitting response to any Indian aggression
RAWALPINDI: The military Tuesday reiterated its “neutral stance” towards any political party or ideology, responding to former prime minister Imran Khan’s suggestion that the government’s efforts to prevent him from running for office were backed by the powerful army chief.
“The government and the army have constitutional and non-political relationships, which should not be politicized as it will be in the best interest of all that the army remains apolitical. Political parties need to promote the idea that the army is apolitical”, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj-Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said while addressing a presser at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.
In his maiden news conference, the DG ISPR emphasized: “While respect for all political parties is embedded in the ethos of the Pakistan Army, it is important to clarify that we do not favour any political party or ideology.”
The DG ISPR added that only chaos has spread in that country where the military is used for a particular political vision, ideology or religion. The nation and the military do not want to see the armed forces leaning towards a specific political party because the political use of the military leads to chaos.
The chief military spokesperson commenced the briefing by focusing on the army’s counter-terrorism offensives.
Special political agenda of New Delhi
Beginning with the situation on Pakistan’s eastern border with India and the Line of Control (LoC), Lt-Gen Chaudhry pointed out that the de facto border at Kashmir had remained relatively peaceful after the 2021 ceasefire agreement.
However, he criticised India for spreading “fake propaganda” on infiltration and technical air violations, citing the “special political agenda” of New Delhi.
Furthermore, he highlighted that Pakistan had provided complete access to United Nations observers to the LoC, whereas India had not done so, showing that India wished to conceal the situation in occupied Kashmir.
Mr Chaudhry noted Pakistan had organised 16 visits to the LoC, which included participation from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) secretary-general and foreign media.
He, however, said India has not taken any initiative like this to hide the ground realities in the Occupied Kashmir from the international community.
He said that India had violated the LoC ceasefire 56 times this year, which included three airspace violations, 22 instances of speculative firing, six ceasefire violations, and 25 technical airspace violations. Mr Chaudhry further said that India cannot change the historical status of Kashmir through “aggressive designs and baseless allegations.”
“Should India choose to undertake any misadventure, Pakistani forces will give a strong response,” warned the official.
He declared the Armed Forces of Pakistan are fully prepared to respond to all kind of provocation from India and are resolute to respond to any aggressive designs of the enemy.
Situation along the western borders
Talking about the situation along the western borders, Maj-Gen Chaudhry said a surge in the attempts to harm the law and order situation in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been witnessed in last few months.
However, the armed forces, police and Law Enforcement Agencies are fully active to foil designs of the foes of the country. He said the armed forces are fully focused to ensure internal and border security and they are playing a cardinal role in breaking terrorists’ networks.
He informed the Pakistan Army along with civil and military intelligence agencies is conducting over 70 intelligence based operations (IBOs) on the average across the country to stem out the recent wave of terrorism and resurgence.
Maj-Gen Chaudhry shared that the security forces have so far conducted some 8,269 IBOs since 2023 and apprehended 1,378 terrorists and killed 157 among them during the anti-terrorism operations.
“The security forces are focusing on it. The civil and military law enforcement agencies (LEAs) have made wonderful measures. However, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch Separatist organizations have been found behind all that,” the DG ISPR said.
He said since the withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan, some 436 terrorist incidents took place that martyred 293 innocent civilians and injured 521 individuals. “Today, Alhamdulilah (Thanks to Allah) with the support of the nation, there is no ‘No Go Area’ in Pakistan,” he added.
The armed forces spokesperson underlined that there were few terrorist groups making hostile activities whereas proper efforts were underway to exterminate them. He added that a large cache of illegal weapons, ammunition and ordnance was being recovered from the terrorists during various IBOs and further recovery was underway.
The Peshawar Police Lines and Karachi Police Office (KPO) attacks showed the nefarious intentions of the country’s enemies, whereas these terrorists had no contact with Islam, he added.
He informed that Peshawar attack was done by Jamaat ul Ahrar and the attacker hailed from Afghanistan. He added that the Peshawar attack facilitator was arrested who had trained the suicide attackers and received a sum of Rs7.5 million for facilitation and execution of the attack. “The attack on Peshawar Police Lines was postponed twice due to lack of the people offering prayer in the mosque. In the third time, the attack was executed in the presence of maximum people,” the ISPR DG said.
He added that the KPO attack facilitator Aryad Ullah Waheed alias Abdul Aziz was also arrested who received directions from TTP leadership and got Rs 3 million whereas he bought a car from that money to execute the attack.
The ISPR DG mentioned that during the anti-terrorism operations since January 2023, some 137 officers and soldiers have embraced martyrdom and 117 got injured. He said that the nation paid tribute to these brave sons of the soil.
He added that the intelligence agencies’ day and night efforts had helped to arrest Baloch terrorist commander Gulzar Alam alias Shambey.
Pakistan armed forces’ efforts were not hidden to any and if compared to the world forces under which circumstances and resources it fought against terrorism, there was no precedent to it, he added. “Our fight will continue till termination of the last terrorist,” he vowed.
Western Border Management measures
Highlighting the Western Border Management measures, the ISPR DG said almost 98 percent border fencing along 2,611 kilometers Pak-Afghan international border was completed and 85 percent fencing was completed along Pak-Iran border.
He added that 85 percent construction of forts along Pak-Afghan and 33 percent along Pak-Iran border was completed.
During this entire process, he said many soldiers of Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom to complete fencing.
He added that 65 percent area in the newly merged tribal districts was cleansed from mines as some 98,000 mines have been neutralized.
Responding to media queries, he said the counter-terrorism operations were based on four components of clear, hold, build and transfer. The forces used to go in an affected area, terminate terrorists, revive socio-economic status and transfer the area to civil administration.
The DG ISPR said that the government had realized to move towards through enduring peace by build and transfer. He added that hostile agencies were working and would be making all out efforts to fail it.
Replying to a query pertaining to India, he said Indian aggression and false statements could not change history. Kashmir’s disputed status was globally recognized and could not be changed. It was never an integral part of India, nor it will remain its part, he added.
The COAS, he said first visited the Line of Control (LoC) and said that Pakistan armed forces could defend every inch of the country and could take war to the enemies’ home.
Campaign against institutions
Referring to social media campaign against institutions, he said the Constitution gave freedom of expression under some legal caveats. He added that the discussion on social media against state institutions was senseless, unconstitutional and illogical.
He said that TTP and Pakistan Armed Forces had a relationship of kinetic operations. The decision of dialogue with TTP was made by the then government, he added.
He added that these hostile and inimical elements and agencies have no faith and religion as they attack all without any discrimination including law enforcement agencies (LEAs), ulema, forces and media etc.
He commended that the KP Police had rendered huge sacrifices and the nation must acknowledge it as the armed forces had acknowledged it.
He added that Army was supporting for training and joint intelligence-based operations and Intelligence sharing with KP Police.
Responding to another query, he said the armed forces veteran organizations were for the welfare of veterans and raise their issues. “The veteran organizations are not commercial or political organizations. The ex-servicemen should avoid being political,” he added.
Election security
Maj Gen Sharif said that the military gives its opinion based on ground realities to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the court through the defence ministry regarding the election security arrangements.
He said that the defence ministry elaborated on the current situation before the Supreme Court (SC) and the ECP. He added that the details of the meeting between the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) and the senior military officers cannot be made public.
The DG ISPR said that the government implements military deployments under Article 245. The defence ministry apprised the ECP and the court regarding the provision of army contingents for election security, he added.
He said that there is a strong accountability and justice system existing in the military institutions. Whenever we get evidence against anyone, then the individual faces accountability, said the DG ISPR.
‘Military mindset against terrorists’
Maj Gen Sharif said that the army chief expressed his views about building national consensus to cope with the national challenges. He further said that negotiations with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was the decision of the then government, whereas, the armed forces have a military mindset against terrorists.
He added that the military mindset of the armed forces will continue till the elimination of the last terrorists and the establishment of permanent peace.
Regarding Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) police, the DG ISPR said that the sacrifices of the KP police force are not hidden from the nation. “We are improving the efficiency of the KP police. It is sorrowful that the KP police is criticised for general incidents. We are standing with the KP police and will always support it.”
The head of the military’s media wing said that baseless propaganda is being carried out against the armed forces through fake social media accounts of the ISPR.
Kabal incident
Maj-Gen Sharif said that the Kabal incident was sorrowful and Inspector General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (IG KP) gave a detailed briefing regarding the blasts at the CTD police station. He said that evidence showed that it was not a terrorism incident.
“Kabal incident was apparently an accident as the pieces of evidence show that weaponry was stored on the first floor of the building. Rescue operation of Pakistan Army and other security institutions is still underway.”
