When speaking to the media about security-related issues, Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry says the army is focused on eradicating terrorism.











ISLAMABAD: The chief army spokesperson stated on Tuesday that all politicians and parties were "respectable" and that the Pakistan Army was a "national army".

Maj-Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry briefed the media at his first news conference as the director general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on the present security situation on the eastern and western borders as well as other professional topics.

However, the ISPR chief also discussed the army's involvement in the Punjab elections, a social media campaign against the military hierarchy, and the potential for disciplining some retired generals during the question-and-answer session.

A national army, the Pakistan Army is... All political parties are honorable to us politicians, Maj-Gen Chaudhry stated in response to a query. He emphasized that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen. Asim Munir had emphasized that the Pakistani people were the source of power and that everyone had the right to voice their opinions.

"The soldiers won't want to join a single philosophy or political group. In the army, every area is represented. The army's collaboration with them extends to operations against terrorism, he emphasized.

The ISPR DG stated that employing the army for a certain political or religious purpose might bring anarchy in response to a different question about the online campaign against the army.

He continued by saying that neither the public nor the army would want the military to be linked to any one political party. Political leaders ought to improve our way of thinking. Giving the army a political hue will not be suitable because of their non-political connection.

The ISPR DG said, "Veterans (retired soldiers) are our asset," when questioned about Lt-Gen Amjad Shoaib's detention. They gave their lives to support Pakistani army. Veteran associations provide a philanthropic purpose rather than becoming political. Politics shouldn't be done by them.

According to him, the federal government deployed the forces in accordance with Article 245 of the Constitution in order to provide military personnel for the election in Punjab.

The chief military spokesperson informed reporters that "the view that the Ministry of Defence had told the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the Supreme Court [in this issue] is based on the facts on the ground.

In response to a question regarding the current army chief's remark in parliament that "We should talk about our Pakistan instead of Naya or Purana Pakistan," the DG ISPR clarified that the army chief had said that in order to address the challenges, all the country's stakeholders needed to come to an agreement.

Gen. Chaudhry said that propaganda against the military authority was being carried out on social media by anonymous accounts when asked whether Imran Khan had become a security issue and if there would be an emergency or martial law in the nation after Eidul Fitr. "Now it is up to you to decide how you see it."

The head of ISPR was also questioned on whether Gen. (retd.) Qamar Javed Bajwa and Lt. Gen. (retd.) Faiz Hameed should face court martial proceedings because it was believed that both former generals had gone above their authority and were to blame for the current situation.

When asked where to find army-related news, Maj-Gen Chaudhry said, "keep your eyes only on the press release of the ISPR" since that was the only reliable source. "There are several active  ISPR profiles on social media... only pay attention to legitimate accounts. By doing this, you will avoid making assumptions and having anxious thoughts.

He underlined the army's own intricate structure. The system is founded on facts and due procedure, therefore each objection is addressed. Its goal is to ensure that all parties receive justice. Its goal is to avoid acting based on rumours.

The ISPR DG continued by stating that although Pakistan and India had different military budgets due to the neighboring nation's longstanding bigger budget, every single soldier in the Pakistani army was committed to the spirit.

He claimed that India's aggressive goals and unfounded accusations could not alter the course of history. It is impossible to alter Kashmir's officially acknowledged disputed status. Kashmir has never been and never will be a part of India.

The Pakistani Army is capable of defending, and if required, the war may be carried into the enemy's land, the army chief stated during his first visit to the Line of Control (LoC), adding that "Any adventure will be met with strong response."

In a press conference to brief the media on security-related issues, the ISPR DG stated that the Indian authorities launched an attack in Pulwama with their own planning. He specifically denounced India's 56 ceasefire violations along the Line Of Control 

Maj-Gen Chaudhry said that the adjacent nation had committed 25 technical air breaches, three airspace violations, six minor ceasefire violations, and 22 speculative fire events. Pakistan, meanwhile, downed six Indian espionage quadcopters.

The DG ISPR emphasized that Pakistan was constantly ready to strongly retaliate against such Indian aggressions. "India's oppressive goals [in illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir], baseless accusations, and false claims cannot be accepted, "History shouldn't be changed", he said

The army commander made his first trip to the LoC after assuming office, he added, "sending a clear message that Pakistan's forces are prepared to defend every corner of the country." "We can move this conflict into the enemy's land if necessary. We are a battle-tested army, he insisted, and our leaders command our soldiers from the front.

The DG ISPR emphasized that India had a well-planned attempt in Pulwama in February 2019, which was thwarted by Pakistani troops' "operational preparedness," which was confirmed by their own governor Satya Pal Malik and ex-army commander.

Scholars and media have also played their full role, which is commendable" in the fight against terrorism, according to General Chaudhry, who noted that they had all "rejected the false narrative of the TTP [Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan]".

No person or armed organization should be permitted to impose their own laws, he added. "Only with the supremacy and observance of the law do societies develop."

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) has recorded 219 incidents of terrorist activity in the current year, followed by 206 in Balochistan, six in Sindh, and five in Punjab.

General Chaudhry also disclosed that 8,269 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in all had been carried out, and that as a result, 1,535 terrorists had been killed or captured.

4,040 IBOs were done in Balochistan, 3,591 in K-P, 119 in Punjab, and 519 in Sindh, out of the total. Since January, the army, police, and LEAs have performed more than 70 IBOs each day on average.

He said that the suicide bomber in the North Waziristan Mari Petroleum Company blast on February 11 had been identified as a result of effective IBOs against terrorist networks.

The ISPR DG stated that the suicide bomber had been a member of Jamaatul Ahrar and that the TTP had worked with them to carry out the assault on January 23 in the Peshawar Police Lines.

Gen. Chaudhry discussed the attack on the Karachi Police Office Building on February 23. The three assailants were all put to death. He said that bombs and other ammunition were also recovered from the three attackers' masterminds, who were later detained.

Border fencing

According to the ISPR DG, in an effort to stop terrorist activity, the majority of the border fencing construction along a total of 3,141 km has been finished.


"Under border management, more than 98% of the 2,611 km Pakistan-Afghanistan border work has been finished, while more than 85% of the work on the Pakistan-Iran border has been completed," he said.

He said, "On the Pak-Afghan border, 85% of the forts have been finished, while work on the remaining forts is progressing quickly. On the Pak-Iran border, 33% of the forts have been finished."

The ISPR DG stated, "The Pakistan Army has completed demining in 65% of the tribal areas in K-P."

He also emphasised the initiative for socioeconomic uplift that is now being carried out in the region, particularly in the tribal areas of K-P, to maintain stability and unbroken peace. "A total of 3,654 developmental projects were launched in K-P at a cost of Rs162 billion," he said.

"Around 85% of the projects have been finished, including the building and repair of marketplaces, educational facilities, hospitals, and communication infrastructure. In addition to this, 95% of the afflicted people has now returned home," he said. 

“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 the Pakistani forces and other law-enforcement agencies by making great sacrifices.”

Army expenses to be reduced

He also revealed that the 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 Gen (retd) Qamar Jawed Bajwa’s continued influence on the military, the ISPR DG maintained that while “everyone was entitled to their opinion”, the centre of “real power” was the nation.

This was Gen Chaudhry’s first press conference since taking the office of the ISPR DG in December, when he replaced Lt-Gen Babar Iftikhar. He maintained that the army was focused on rooting out terrorism from the country and respects all political parties.

He also said that the Pakistan Army has chosen to lower all expenses for the benefit of the economy following a thorough examination of its operational and, in particular, non-operational costs in light of the present economic climate.