Rawalpindi
Director General ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar has made it clear in unequivocal terms that no deal is being made with anyone, including Nawaz Sharif, and reports about deal are based on speculations.
“Those talking of deal should be asked who is striking this deal and what are its motives and evidence. There is no problem in civil-military relationship. Armed forces are a subordinate institution of the government of Pakistan. Defece operation will not be impacted despite economic challenges,” he made it clear.
“Pakistan army too realizes that the problem of inflation hit the people. The media reports about extension in Army Chief tenure of service are also mere speculations,” he added.
He shared these views duirng media briefing at ISPR, Rawalpind Office on Wednesday.
The ISPR general said the process of fencing Pak-Afghan borders will continue because it is an international border. Ceasefire has come to end with banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on December 9 and operation against them is underway, he continued.
“94 percent fencing process on Pak-Afghan border has been completed. No prisoners of proscribed TTP have been released and on the other hand operation is continuing against them, he observed.
He went on to say that the government is in contact with the Taliban government in Afghanistan. We have good relations with them also. We understand each other and the fencing work will soon be completed. A frame work will be worked out for implementation of National Security policy, he added.
To a question, he said armed forces are subordinate institute of the government of Pakistan and they comply with the government orders. This is very clear and establishment should be kept out of the media reports and rumors.
Programs are held on TV channels in the evening that establishment did this or that. For God’s sake establishment be kept away from them. Focus should be placed on public and national issues.
Media reports about deal are speculations.
Indian allegations are part of political agenda, he underscored. The entire world is concerned over Kashmir problem. We have fought case of Kashmiris and presented it before the world. . .
He observed that India is internally facing the challenge of religious extremism. He indicated there is no existence of Daesh in Pakistan and it exists across the border.
He hoped Pakistan will soon come out of FTF grey list.
He underlined March parade will take place on time. Work on CPEC will continue.
The DG ISPR emphasized the importance of fencing on Pak-Afghan border saying it is important for the security of people on both sides of the border as well as to regulate trade activities. It is not aimed at dividing the people but securing them.
Major General Babar Iftikhar held the border management system with Afghanistan will be made more effective with the passage of time. He said the blood of our martyrs is included in the erection of this fence. He said this is a fence of peace and it will be completed and stay intact.
The DG ISPR said sixty seven new wings of FC Balochistan and FC Khyberpakhunkhwa were established in the year 2021 to further strengthen the border security. He said the process has also been started to establish six more wings.
Kashmir (IIOJK), adding that India is internally facing the challenge of religious extremism. He stated the people living around the Line of Control (LoC) took a sigh of relief after February 2021 agreement with India. The area “remained peaceful throughout the year” with bringing positive change in the lives of the locals, he added.
The DG noted that on the LoC, India committed false propaganda about infiltration and carried out fake encounter in Keran Valley, putting blame on Pakistan. They recently staged a fake encounter in Neelum Valley in Keran sector and killed an innocent Kashmiri and then blamed us. In this particular incident, the Indian media ran pictures of a terrorist named Shabbir. He is not only alive but is at his home in Sharda, he told.
He remarked Kashmir valley is under worst siege since August 2019 as Indian forces are martyring innocent people. We pay rich tribute to the struggle of Kashmiris for Right to Self-Determination movement and pledged to stand with them at every level, he added.
He said the truth is that India has already tried to externalise Kashmir’s indigenous freedom struggle, adding, India is implementing “systematic demographic changes” in the occupied valley.
Talking about the Pakistan-Afghanistan relations, the DG said both countries enjoy strong harmony and brotherhood. He also expressed fear that the worsening situation in Afghanistan can further fuel severe humanitarian crisis.
Major General Babar Iftikhar said that security forces of the country have rooted out all the terrorist outfits working to sabotage the national peace. Normalcy is being returned to the areas where army had conducted operations, he stated.
He told that the intelligence agencies have issued 890 threat alerts on the basis of which 70 percent incidents were averted. Pakistan Army launched successful operation in North Waziristan in 2021, he told.
In 2021, 248 troops were martyred. We salute them and their families. More than 100,000 ammunition were also seized. Under the National Action Plan (NAP), operation was initiated against terrorists, he informed.
He pointed out that an organized campaign is being launched against different institutions of Pakistan since some time. It was aimed at creating gulf between government, people and armed forces and institutions. We are fully aware of all such activities and their different connections.
Those who are trying to harm Pakistan by targeting institutions and persons through fake media reports and concocted and fabricated propaganda had failed in the past and will meet failure in future as well, he remarked.
