DG ISPR press briefing: 'Forces deployed at western border against non-state actors'

[Clutch]

DG ISPR press briefing: 'Forces deployed at western border against non-state actors'
Dawn.com
Updated October 05, 2017
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DG ISPR Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor addresses a press conference at GHQ in Rawalpindi. ─ DawnNews

Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor on Thursday addressed a press conference at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

The press conference followed a visit to Kabul by Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Sunday.

Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor conceded to there being threats at Pakistan's borders, but said the important question was "whether the threat is because of a state or non-state actors" and what the country's response to it is.

"Pakistan is an indispensible reality," he asserted. "When multiple interests collude, it is natural that it creates conflicts."

"There has been war in Afghanistan for the past four decades. We fought with jihadis against the Soviet Union. We have fought well, as a nation, the war that entered our borders after 9/11," he said.

"There are no organised bases of any terrorist organisations in the country anymore. On the ground, more than 50 per cent of Afghan territory is out of their [Kabul's] control, which is also affecting Pakistan."

"There is a strategic threat that exists on the western borders which forces us to keep our army at the borders, because of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and other such non-state actors."

"Our [western] border also meets Iran. It is important to mention that our deployment is not against Iran or Afghanistan but against non-state actors," he explained.

"In the east, we have a border with India which is unsafe because of India's inappropriate reactions," he said.

"Ceasefire violation in 2017 are larger than any other year before this, with 222 civilians killed along the Line of Control. But India has also paid a price with our response and we will continue to do so [respond] if it does not act with restraint."

"Threats from India are perpetual. We are a peaceful country and we do not want war with them, but we will defend ourselves and have the capability to do so," he cautioned.

The DG ISPR said Pakistan had ongoing coordination and contact with Tehran. "The army chief will soon visit Iran to improve relations," he said.

Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor summarised various instances that gave a snapshot of the security situation in the country.

"Operation Raddul Fasaad is ongoing. Operation Khyber 4 is in the ground-clearing phase," he said.

He observed that Muharram processions were peaceful despite threats in Balochistan and Karachi. He also spoke of a Bohri community gathering in which 21,000 foreigners participated, including 12,000 Indian citizens.

"Other smaller events also took place," he added, naming the World XI tournament, Miranshah cricket match which also included foreign players, and an international hockey match in Karachi.

"Show me a single country which was facing such threats in 2008 and 2009. There are no countries like this, because all other countries who faced such problems either collapsed or had to have foreign armies take control. This is why you will hear the narrative that the Pakistan Army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) are not in anyone's control," he said, referring to recent media reports that ISI officials had ties to militant groups.

"It is important that institutions work with each other. The institutions that are a part of the soft prong take charge when security improves," he said.

 

[Clutch]

This is probably the outcome of the 7 hour huddle the COAS had a couple days ago.

The COAS visit to Afghanistan was probably laying the groundwork for Pak strikes inside Afghanistan.

Indian Terrorism against pakistan checkmate again.

 

[Whirling_dervesh]

When multiple interests collude, it is natural that it creates conflicts......Didn't have to say further than this.....Army and ISI are indispensable realities.....soft and crooked muslim league politicians need to realise this

 

[Yerusalem 4880 Kms]

Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor on Thursday addressed a press conference at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

The press conference followed a visit to Kabul by Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Sunday.

Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor conceded to there being threats at Pakistan's borders, but said the important question was "whether the threat is because of a state or non-state actors" and what the country's response to it is.

"Pakistan is an indispensible reality," he asserted. "When multiple interests collude, it is natural that it creates conflicts."

"There has been war in Afghanistan for the past four decades. We fought with jihadis against the Soviet Union. We have fought well, as a nation, the war that entered our borders after 9/11," he said.

"There are no organised bases of any terrorist organisations in the country anymore. On the ground, more than 50 per cent of Afghan territory is out of their [Kabul's] control, which is also affecting Pakistan."

"There is a strategic threat that exists on the western borders which forces us to keep our army at the borders, because of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and other such non-state actors."

"Our [western] border also meets Iran. It is important to mention that our deployment is not against Iran or Afghanistan but against non-state actors," he explained.

"In the east, we have a border with India which is unsafe because of India's inappropriate reactions," he said.

"Ceasefire violation in 2017 are larger than any other year before this, with 222 civilians killed along the Line of Control. But India has also paid a price with our response and we will continue to do so [respond] if it does not act with restraint."

"Threats from India are perpetual. We are a peaceful country and we do not want war with them, but we will defend ourselves and have the capability to do so," he cautioned.

The DG ISPR said Pakistan had ongoing coordination and contact with Tehran. "The army chief will soon visit Iran to improve relations," he said.

Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor summarised various instances that gave a snapshot of the security situation in the country.

"Operation Raddul Fasaad is ongoing. Operation Khyber 4 is in the ground-clearing phase," he said.

He observed that Muharram processions were peaceful despite threats in Balochistan and Karachi. He also spoke of a Bohri community gathering in which 21,000 foreigners participated, including 12,000 Indian citizens.

"Other smaller events also took place," he added, naming the World XI tournament, Miranshah cricket match which also included foreign players, and an international hockey match in Karachi.

"Show me a single country which was facing such threats in 2008 and 2009. There are no countries like this, because all other countries who faced such problems either collapsed or had to have foreign armies take control. This is why you will hear the narrative that the Pakistan Army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) are not in anyone's control," he said, referring to recent media reports that ISI officials had ties to militant groups.

"It is important that institutions work with each other. The institutions that are a part of the soft prong take charge when security improves," he said.

"If a foreign team is ready to play in Miranshah on one phone call, it means that they know what the situation there is. It takes time to get results," he said, "Specially when you have spent 15 years fixing what the world wanted to destroy."

"We have to take this war to logical end. If we end bilateral contact, things can be reverted. But if we are resolved, then nothing can happen [against us] in Pakistan. Even right now, we have intelligence about four agencies working against us."

"We have travelled a long way. We are moving towards our destiny which is a peaceful Pakistan. ISAF could never have succeeded without us.

Responding to cross-border firing at the Line of Control, he said: "Unlike India, we cannot fire indiscriminately as there are Kashmiri brothers on the other side as well, so when there are casualties on that side, it is soldiers and infrastructure. But war is not the solution, so we are talking to them at all levels to stop this."

When asked why there had been no press release issued following a special corps commanders conference at GHQ, he responded: "Silence is also an expression."

Responding to a question about the Milli Muslim League, the political wing of the Jamaatud Dawa, in polls, he said: "Every Pakistani has the right to participate in the polling process."

Explaining the issue of Rangers deployment outside the accountability courts on Monday, he said that the Rangers fall under the Interior Ministry. Three wings of Rangers were requisitioned under Article 147. Once this happens, there is local coordination. This has been happening since 2014 and is refreshed every three months."

"Sometimes it happens that police ask the Rangers for assistance, and they take action. When the National Accountability Bureau had its first hearing, there was some trouble when the former prime minister was appearing. A letter was written to the Rangers, and there was some coordination in the night as well, so the Rangers reached the court at 7am," he explained.

"If a soldier is doing his duty and is told not to allow irrelevant people... It is possible that someone who did not have a card was a relevant person, but Rangers personnel do not know. Even if the army chief does not have a card, he is informed by personnel that he is not allowed [to pass]."

"We need to appreciate the personnel for their duty."

"Any type of instability, either political, economic or developmental, cannot be in country's interest, so [the matter] needs to be resolved."

Responding to a question about alleged links between the ISI and militants, he said: "Having links is different from supporting. Name any intelligence agency which does not have links. Links can be positive, and he [US Defence Secretary James Mattis] did not say there was support, so the narrative that I talked about is relevant here as well. We should not be a part of it. We have our own narrative."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1361884/i...ional-policy-in-wide-ranging-press-conference

 

[Clutch]

Keep on making conspiracy theories.

Are they referring to our non state actors or afghans ?

Just an assumption... a theory is something you put some evidence behind no matter how weak it may be.

I don't provide any evidence... could have pulled it out of my arse.

Non-state actors and Afghan terrorists are intertwined and financed by the terrorists to the SOUTH of pakistan.... Again maybe pulled this out of my arse as well... who knows

 

[VCheng]

This is why you will hear the narrative that the Pakistan Army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) are not in anyone's control," he said, referring to recent media reports that ISI officials had ties to militant groups.

"It is important that institutions work with each other. The institutions that are a part of the soft prong take charge when security improves," he said.

So it is only when security improves that the hard prong in charge now will relinquish charge to the soft prong? Interesting concept, that. Let us reflect on that a bit and figure out the repercussions. (I hope the good General realizes he just confirmed the very narrative he sought to refute. )

he responded: "Silence is also an expression."

Right. Then why this press conference?

 

[HAIDER]

ISPR " khamoshi ki bhi aik zaban hoti ha" seem to be warning to Nawaz , enough is enough.

 

[tarrar]

Clear message to all, including the corrupt & treacherous politicians.