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The chief military spokesperson has said Pakistan Army is a "national army" and that all politicians and parties are "respectable.
In a maiden press conference on Tuesday, Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry gave detailed briefing on the current security situation both on eastern and western borders as well as other professional matters.
However, during a question answer session, the DG ISPR also spoke about the role of army in the Punjab elections, social media campaign against the military leadership and possibility of disciplinary action against the retired generals.
"Pakistan Army is a national army… for us all politicians, all parties are respectable," Maj Gen Sharif said while replying to a question.
He said that everyone has the right to have an opinion, adding that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir has reiterated that people of Pakistan are the source of power.
"The army will not want to go to any one ideology or party. Every region is represented in the army. The cooperation of the army with them is to the extent of operations against terrorism," he stressed.
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The DG ISPR, while answering a question regarding the campaign against the army on social media, said that using army for a particular political or religious cause can lead to chaos.
He further said that both the people and the army would not want the army to be associated with any particular political party.
"Political leaders should strengthen our thinking. The army and the politicians have a non-political relationship, it will not be appropriate to give it a political colour."
When asked about the arrest of Lt Gen (retd) Amjad Shoaib, the DG ISPR said, "Veterans (retired soldiers) are our asset. Their sacrifices are for the forces of Pakistan. Veteran groups are not political organisations, but charitable organisations. They should not do politics."
In response to a question regarding the provision of military personnel for elections in Punjab, he said that the deployment of Pakistan forces is done by the federal government under Article 245. The position that the Ministry of Defence has told the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the Supreme Court (in this matter) is based on the facts on the ground.
When he was asked about the current army chief's statement in parliament wherein he stated, “We should talk about our Pakistan instead of Naya or Purana Pakistan', the DG ISPR explained that, the army chief had said that to deal with the challenges, all the stakeholders of the country should establish a consensus.
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When asked if Imran Khan had become a security risk and is there going to be an emergency or martial law in the country after Eidul Fitr, Gen Chaudhry said that propaganda against the military authorities is being carried out on social media through anonymous accounts. "Now it is up to you how you see it."
When asked whether General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa and General (retd) Faiz should be court-martialed as there was perception that both ex-generals exceeded their mandate and are responsible for the current mess, he said for any news related to the army, keep your eyes only on the press release of ISPR as they were the only source.
"Many fake accounts of ISPR are active on social media… keep an eye on authentic accounts only. In this way, you will not go to anxiety-type questions and assumptions.”
Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that the army has its own detailed system. "If there is any criticism, it is dealt with, but the system is based on facts and due process. Its aim is to provide justice to all parties. Its purpose is not to act on the basis of rumours."
The DG ISPR further said that there is a difference between the defence budgets of Pakistan and India as the budgets of the neighbouring country have been higher for decades, but every single soldier of the Pakistani army is dedicated to the spirit.
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He said that India's aggressive ambitions and baseless allegations cannot change history. "Kashmir's officially recognised disputed status cannot be changed. Kashmir has never been an integral part of India, nor will it ever be."
The army chief made the first visit to the Line of Control (LoC) and conveyed the message that the Pakistani Army is capable of defence, and if necessary, the battle can be taken to the enemy's territory.
"Any adventure will be met with a strong response. In Pulwama, the Indian authorities launched an attack with their own planning."
The DG ISPR also briefed the media on security-related matters, particularly condemning 56 ceasefire violations by India along the Line of Control (LoC).
Major General Chaudhry maintained that these violations by the neighbouring country included 22 cases of speculative fire incidents, three airspace violations, six minor incidents of ceasefire violations and 25 technical air violations.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has shot down six Indian spy quadcopters. The DG ISPR also stressed that Pakistan was forever prepared to fully counter such aggressions by India.
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"Indian oppressive ambitions [in Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir], baseless allegations and false claims cannot change historical facts," he said.
"The globally accepted status of Kashmir's disputed status cannot be changed" by Indian efforts, the DG ISPR underscored.
"After taking office, the army chief made his first visit to the LoC and sent a clear message that Pakistan's forces are prepared to defend every corner of the country," he said adding that "if need be, then we can take this battle into the enemy's territory".
"We are a battle-hardened army and are forces which are led from the front by the officers," he stressed.
"India had advanced by a properly planned effort in February 2019 in Pulwama, as verified by their own governor Satya Pal Malik and ex-army chief," the DG ISPR said underscoring that it was the Pakistani forces' "operational preparedness" that defeated their efforts.
He also lauded the security forces for their counter-terrorism efforts.
'There is no no-go area in Pakistan'
The DG ISPR during his press conference stressed that terrorists, plotters and facilitators involved in the incidents of terrorism were also exposed and arrested.
He lauded the efforts of security forces engaged in anti-terrorism activities, paying tribute to the 137 officers and men that were martyred and 117 officers and men that were injured during the operations since January.
"The entire nation pays tribute to these brave sons and their families who sacrificed their precious lives for the peace and security of the country," he said.
"No one should doubt the resolve, commitment and capabilities of the Pakistan Army, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and intelligence agencies to eradicate terrorism," the DG ISPR added.
"Our successful war against terrorism will continue till the end of the last terrorist," he stressed.
General Chaudhry also said that "in the war against terrorism, scholars and media have also played their full role, which is commendable" as they have collectively "rejected the false narrative of the TTP".
"No individual or armed group can be allowed to take the law into their hands," he said, "societies develop only with the supremacy and observance of the law."
In the present year, 219 events of terrorist activity have been reported in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), followed by 206 n Balochistan, six in Sindh and five in Punjab.
General Chaudhry also revealed that a total of 8,269 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) have been conducted as a result of which 1,535 terrorists have been killed or apprehended.
Of these, 4,040 IBOs were conducted in Balochistan, another 3,591 in K-P, 119 in Punjab and 519 operations were conducted in Sindh.
The DG ISPR revealed that on average over 70 IBOs were being conducted daily by the army, police and LEAs since January.
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He said that successful IBOs against terrorist networks led to the identification of the suicide attacker in the February 11 bombing at Mari Petroleum Company in North Waziristan.
Speaking of the January 23 attack on the Police Lines in Peshawar, the DG ISPR said that the suicide bomber had belonged to Jamaat-ul-Ahrar in collaboration with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
General Chaudhry informed the media about the February 23 Karachi Police Office Building attackers as well, all three of whom were killed.
"Three masterminds of this attack were also arrested afterward," he said noting that explosives and other ammunition were also retrieved from them.
'Work on border fencing almost complete'
The DG also revealed that most of the work on border fencing has been completed along a total of 3,141 kilometres in an effort to curtail terrorist activity.
"Under border management, more than 98% of work on the 2,611 km Pak-Afghan border has been completed while more than 85% of work on the Pakistan-Iran border has been completed," he said.
"85 per cent of the forts have been completed to prevent the movement of terrorists on the Pak-Afghan border," he continued, "while 33 per cent of the forts on the Pak-Iran border have been completed and the work on the rest of the forts is going on rapidly."
"Through a dedicated effort, the Pakistan Army has completed demining in 65 per cent of the tribal areas in K-P," he added.
He also highlighted the socio-economic uplift project is underway to ensure stability and perpetual peace in the region, in particular, in the tribal areas of K-P.
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"3,654 developmental projects were launched in K-P with a cost of Rs162 billion," he said adding that 85% of projects including the construction and rehabilitation of markets, educational institutions, hospitals and communication infrastructure have been completed. Apart from this, 95% of the affected population has also returned to their homes.
"The peace and order situation in Balochistan has improved compared to earlier," he said stressing that "the security of CPEC and other projects is being ensured by Pakistani forces and other law enforcement agencies by making great sacrifices."
Army expenses to be reduced
He also revealed that Pakistan Army, after a detailed review of its operational and especially non-operational expenses in view of the current economic conditions, has decided that all types of expenses will be reduced for the betterment of the economy.
"In this regard, along with the reduction in petroleum, ration, construction, non-operational procurement, training and non-operational movement, simulator training and online meetings are being conducted using modern technology to reduce costs in this area as well," he said.
Responding to a journalist's query on former army chief General (retd) Qamar Jawed Bajwa's continued influence on the military, the DG ISPR maintained that while "everyone was entitled to their opinion", the centre of "real power" was the nation.
He maintained that the army is focused on rooting out terrorism from the country and respects all political parties.
This was General Chaudhry's first press conference since taking office in December. He had replaced Lieutenant General Babar Iftikhar.
Express Tribune
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