DG ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar terms rumors about a deal with Nawaz Sharif as absolutely baseless speculation
Says armed forces of Pakistan are subservient institution of govt of Pakistan & work according to their orders
Says we are ready to deal any kind of internal & external threats
RAWALPINDI ( ABRAR MUSTAFA )
Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar on Wednesday, termed the rumors about a deal with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Quaid and former prime minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif as absolutely baseless speculation, adding that if anyone is talking about a deal, please ask them who is doing it and what is the evidence of such a deal.
As the year 2021 came to a close, Major General Babar Iftikhar gave an overview of the year 2021 at a press conference.
The journalist asked the question that there are speculations about Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan and in government though deal are circulating and these things are not coming from opposition circles but also from the government circles, whether you will tell reality and whether whatever has been happening in Pakistan in past is being repeated? Replying the question DG ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar said “I will say only in this matter that all these are speculations and I will say them baseless speculations if anyone is talking like this and talking about deal then I will request you to ask question from them that who is striking deal and what it is evidence that anyone is striking deal, nothing such is present and if anyone talks about it then I will request you to seek details of this from them, in my understanding I am clear on that, this is all absolutely baseless speculation and less it is debated and discussed it will be better in interest of our country”.
Replying another question, Major General Babar Iftikhar said that there is problem in civil-military relations in the country, I say this time and again that the armed forces of Pakistan are subservient institution of the government of Pakistan and work according to their orders and that is it and there is nothing more to it and there is no need to further speculate the matter. He said on TV programs in the evening, establishment, establishment and establishment do this and that it will be my request to media to keep away establishment from this debate as there are many important issues in Pakistan, there is education, health, infrastructure development, population growth and agriculture and there is need to hold discussion on these things, adding that the more you will bring this in the debate the more you will be brining this into, we have said time and again to keep away from this debate and keep the institution outside and not hold debate on it.
Major General Babar Iftikhar replying a question said within the limited resources that we have, we have maintained our defense capability, carried out its capacity enhancement and improved it and we are ready to deal any kind of internal and external threats and will become ready in future also.
Major General Babar Iftikhar said that fencing of the Pak-Afghan border would continue as planned, adding that the blood of martyred soldiers was involved in erecting the fence.
During the wide-ranging media talk on a myriad of issues relating to security and regional developments, the army spokesperson also discussed issues related to the Pak-Afghan border, including its fencing.
According to the DG ISPR, border fencing was being done in an effort to protect the people on both sides as well as to regulate trade. “The fence on the Pak-Afghan border is needed to regulate security, border crossing and trade. The purpose of this is not to divide the people, but to protect them.”
He also said that the security situation along the Western border was “challenging” during 2021. “The western border management, specifically the Pak-Afghan border … there are some specific local, operational and strategic dynamics and these are [being] addressed at the relevant level.”
The DG ISPR said that the Pak-Afghan border fencing was 94 per cent complete, adding: “We are totally focused, and under the western border management regime, the work that is underway will be completed in some time.”
He said that the border management system would be made more effective with the passage of time. “The blood of our martyrs was spilled in erecting this fence. It is a fence of peace. It will be completed and will remain [in place].”
He also said that 67 new wings of Frontier Corps Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been established in 2021 to further strengthen border security. He added that a process to establish six more wings had been initiated.
When asked whether the government had protested with Afghanistan about recent incidents of damage to the border fence, the DG ISPR reiterated that western border management had “local and strategic dynamics”.
The DG ISPR deemed the recent uprooting of the fence by Taliban fighters as “one or two localised problems”, which he said was being discussed by the governments of both the countries.
“We have very good relations. We understand each other and keep talking about different issues that keep surfacing. There is no problem, fencing is underway and will continue.”
The DG ISPR also touched on recent talks with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) during the press briefing, stating that they were “on hold” but operations were “ongoing”.
Highlighting the Kashmir dispute, Major General Babar Iftikhar said that the 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.
The DG ISPR said that the Pak-Afghan border fencing was 94 percent complete. “We are totally focused, and under the western border management regime, the work that is underway will be completed in some time,” he assured.
The DG ISPR exposed a campaign against national institution, calling it as an attempt to damage people’s trust. “We are aware of these efforts and their various linkages,” he said.
Major General Babar Iftikhar said, “Those who spew half-truths, fake news and false propaganda to target institutions and damage the country, have failed and will fail.”
The DG said that talks with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are on hold but the operations are underway. The ceasefire ended on Dec 9. The ceasefire was a confidence-building measure taken ahead of talks with these violent non-state actors on the request of the current afghan government, he told.
The talks with the banned outfit were carried out on the request of new Afghan government. There was a requirement for the Afghan government that TTP should not be using their soil against us. The Afghan authorities said that they would bring the TTP to the table and make them accept what Pakistan wants, he stated.
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.
Looking ahead, the army official said: “2022 also marks 75 years of our independence. We have faced all challenges and we have to play our part in making the country prosperous.”
Referring to the ongoing development projects, the DG ISPR said that 199 new projects have been launched in Balochistan. Hospitals, markets, educational institutions have been established in tribal districts in 2021, he told.
The DG asserted, “We ensure smooth working on country’s progress despite challenges as foolproof security is being provided for all the projects.”
He said that the process of fencing the border between Pakistan and Iran has been completed by 70 percent. The fence will provide protection to the masses on both sides. Several soldiers of armed forces have rendered sacrifices in this cause, he went on to say.