Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said massive, illegal political mafia is on the way to make Azm-i-Istehkam campaign controversial and is willing to sabotage it to fulfil its vested interests. This is not an operation rather a comprehensive campaign to save Pakistan from terrorism. Addressing to media today the DG ISPR said the purpose of his talk was to clarify the army’s stance on some important topics amid the recent rise of “organized propaganda” against the armed forces based on “false and concocted news.” Digital terrorism is being carried out against the armed forces and if continues, the situation will get verse. He said, “very important issues were being sacrificed on the altar of politics”, adding that Azm-i-Istehkam was one such example.
This is not an operation and its comparison with Zarbe Azab was a mistake. “It is a comprehensive counter-terrorism campaign launched through national consensus,” he said this consensus was developed in the apex committee in which chief ministers, ministers, senior government and military officials were present and the Prime Minister head it. The meeting issued a joint declaration of a comprehensive campaign against terrorism. He said the national action plan was made in 2014 and 2021. Now this is being portrayed that as if it was just a military’s operation.
The federal government, last month, approved the operation to counter a sharp rise in terrorist attacks across the country, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan, after the banned TTP ended its ceasefire in November 2022.
“A narrative is being built this campaign would displace people. Why are not those doing propaganda aware of the fact that this effort was only to strengthen the already in-place National Action Plan (NAP)?” he said. Adding he said the document of the operation clearly mentioned “A massive, illegal, political mafia rose to sabotage the operation and its first move was to make the operations controversial.”
The armed forces spokesperson said a “very strong lobby had a vested interest because of which it didn’t want the NAP to succeed and this entity in question is receiving a lot of money to subvert the operation.” “The stakes in sabotaging this operation are very high, and it’s not based on any ideology but involves a lot of money,” he said. “A massive illegal, political mafia rose to sabotage the operation and the first move of that mafia was to make the operations controversial through false and fake arguments.”
Pointing to the NAP’s 14 points, he said kinetic operations were under way in a splendid manner with four to five operations under way in every hour. He said the problem was present in the plan’s other points. He said it was decided in 2014 and 2021 that Counter-Terrorism Departments would be established at the provincial levels and they would be responsible for leading operations against terrorism.
The DG said all political parties had also decided to end the “illegal spectrum”. “This illegal spectrum is felt and seen everywhere in daily life and it hides a major illegal economy through which the criminal system and terrorism operates.” There is a vested interest that doesn’t want this to happen and they’re aking a lot of money.”
When questioned about the violence during a peace rally in Bannu and the alleged firing by security forces, DG Sharif mentioned last week’s terrorist attack on Bannu Cantonment that martyred eight military personnel. He said the locals had demanded carrying out a peace march the next day and it was agreed that there would be no anti-state slogans carried out. “But when the peace march began, some specific negative elements joined with it,” he added. The rally marched through the point of the terrorist attack and “chanted slogans against the army and the state and pelted stones”, adding that some armed individuals were already part of the march “who opened fire because of which there were injuries.”
A temporary wall erected was also torn down and the supply depot was looted, the DG said adding “This is how it happened. The army’s response was as per standard operating procedure and as per orders. When the May 9 incident happened, a specific political group, a chaotic crowd, began doing propaganda that why didn’t the army stop them.” “Army’s system is very clear. If there had been a military situation then there would have been very clear directions and the officers conduct according to it.” he said adding, “It happens when the legal and judicial system gives leeway to the perpetrators and facilitators of May 9 and doesn’t bring them to justice then discord, mob mentality and fascism will further increase in the country.”
When asked about the audio leak of Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud of the banned TTP’s chief, the DG questioned what brand of Islam the militant was preaching that talking about blowing up schools, colleges, hospitals and homes. “This will be taken to its logical end,” he said, adding that such things “only strengthen our resolve that Azm-i-Istehkam is highly necessary.” About criticism against the army and its leadership on social media, the DG said, “What is happening is digital terrorism.” Digital terrorists used the tools of cell phones, computers, falsehood and propaganda to impose their will on society, he said. “Instead of the courts and regulations moving forward against them, they’re given further space and they’re made heroes in the name of freedom of expression,” he said.
