Devil Soul
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ISPR chief disappoints agenda-driven questioners
ISLAMABAD: In his inaugural news briefing after becoming the Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Maj-Gen Asif Ghafoor assigned more than once the credit to the armed forces, police and civil administration in making extraordinary successes in the anti-terrorism war. This is for the first time that police, Rangers and people were credited by the ISPR.
In his words, the success of Operation Zarb-e-Azb is the result of efforts by all institutions. At the same time, he talked about the decisions of the “State” and not one institution in several spheres and emphasized that national cohesion and harmony among all the arms of the government is foremost for the national interest. In it lies the strengthening of constitutional and democratic institutions.
For instance, General Asif Ghafoor stated that intelligence agencies and army were part of the government; and since the start of the anti-terrorism operations, every individual and institution played its role.
In Balochistan, Karachi and elsewhere, he mentioned, the armed forces, police and civil administration collectively worked, which led to restoration of peace. As a result, 90 percent of grave crimes that used to rock Karachi have been curbed.
The ISPR chief did not utter a word that could have raised eyebrows in the federal government, which was a clear departure from the past. Previously, the regime was often rattled over certain remarks of his predecessor.
General Asif Ghafoor aptly handled even somewhat ticklish questions. “This is a policy decision that the State took in national interest. Lots of institutions will have to do their jobs,” he responded when asked about the action against the Jamaatud Dawa (JuD). Asked about President Donald Trump’s remarks, he said this question relates more to the foreign office.
Some agenda-driven elements continue to blow up the issue of DawnLeaks in a bid to create a rift between the government and the army. With this motive in mind, a question was put to the ISPR chief. However, he confined himself to saying that the government is conducting an inquiry into the matter; hopefully it will be completed in the next few days and the government will share it with all.
With a similar intention, another question was asked about extending the full-fledged anti-terrorism operation to Punjab. “We will advise the State where this campaign is required. In Punjab, operations had already been conducted, and if required, they will be carried out in future as well,” General Asif Ghafoor said.
Another question with the same motive was put to him. It pertained to mysterious disappearance and recovery of some social media activists. It referred to Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan’s statement that the missing persons will come back soon.
Reacting, the ISPR chief said: “We do not think that the interior minister’s statement that he would talk to intelligence agencies to recover the missing bloggers, or saying that it’s not the state’s policy, was to implicate someone; and Pakistan Army has nothing to do with these disappearances. A State has tools and instruments which it uses to implement a certain decision and we don’t think that the interior minister accused anyone of involvement. Armed forces and intelligence agencies are part of the state and the bloggers were recovered as a result of the State’s efforts.”
Finally, it is because of the allocation of 200,000 army personnel that the national population and housing census would be conducted, which was lingering for quite some time. The military officers and soldiers will assist the civil administration in this exercise and will simultaneously continue their operational duties, Asif Ghafoor said.
Where he thought these were not related to the Pakistan Army and where he should avoid comments, he conveniently referred certain questions to the concerned ministries or departments of the government.
His maiden presser also gave clear messages to India and Afghanistan. It was made clear to India: "We don't want a war with anyone. War is not a solution to anything. We want the Kashmir issue to be resolved via the United Nations resolutions and dialogue, but this desire for peace should not be misconstrued as a weakness."
Afghanistan was conveyed that it should put its own house in order, especially eliminate terrorists who are targeting Pakistan from its soil. General Asif Ghafoor listed the successes achieved in the ongoing operations and the sacrifices rendered by the army personnel and civilians. The resolve and determination to annihilate the remnants of terrorists was reiterated and till that time the campaign would continue unabated.
ISLAMABAD: In his inaugural news briefing after becoming the Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Maj-Gen Asif Ghafoor assigned more than once the credit to the armed forces, police and civil administration in making extraordinary successes in the anti-terrorism war. This is for the first time that police, Rangers and people were credited by the ISPR.
In his words, the success of Operation Zarb-e-Azb is the result of efforts by all institutions. At the same time, he talked about the decisions of the “State” and not one institution in several spheres and emphasized that national cohesion and harmony among all the arms of the government is foremost for the national interest. In it lies the strengthening of constitutional and democratic institutions.
For instance, General Asif Ghafoor stated that intelligence agencies and army were part of the government; and since the start of the anti-terrorism operations, every individual and institution played its role.
In Balochistan, Karachi and elsewhere, he mentioned, the armed forces, police and civil administration collectively worked, which led to restoration of peace. As a result, 90 percent of grave crimes that used to rock Karachi have been curbed.
The ISPR chief did not utter a word that could have raised eyebrows in the federal government, which was a clear departure from the past. Previously, the regime was often rattled over certain remarks of his predecessor.
General Asif Ghafoor aptly handled even somewhat ticklish questions. “This is a policy decision that the State took in national interest. Lots of institutions will have to do their jobs,” he responded when asked about the action against the Jamaatud Dawa (JuD). Asked about President Donald Trump’s remarks, he said this question relates more to the foreign office.
Some agenda-driven elements continue to blow up the issue of DawnLeaks in a bid to create a rift between the government and the army. With this motive in mind, a question was put to the ISPR chief. However, he confined himself to saying that the government is conducting an inquiry into the matter; hopefully it will be completed in the next few days and the government will share it with all.
With a similar intention, another question was asked about extending the full-fledged anti-terrorism operation to Punjab. “We will advise the State where this campaign is required. In Punjab, operations had already been conducted, and if required, they will be carried out in future as well,” General Asif Ghafoor said.
Another question with the same motive was put to him. It pertained to mysterious disappearance and recovery of some social media activists. It referred to Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan’s statement that the missing persons will come back soon.
Reacting, the ISPR chief said: “We do not think that the interior minister’s statement that he would talk to intelligence agencies to recover the missing bloggers, or saying that it’s not the state’s policy, was to implicate someone; and Pakistan Army has nothing to do with these disappearances. A State has tools and instruments which it uses to implement a certain decision and we don’t think that the interior minister accused anyone of involvement. Armed forces and intelligence agencies are part of the state and the bloggers were recovered as a result of the State’s efforts.”
Finally, it is because of the allocation of 200,000 army personnel that the national population and housing census would be conducted, which was lingering for quite some time. The military officers and soldiers will assist the civil administration in this exercise and will simultaneously continue their operational duties, Asif Ghafoor said.
Where he thought these were not related to the Pakistan Army and where he should avoid comments, he conveniently referred certain questions to the concerned ministries or departments of the government.
His maiden presser also gave clear messages to India and Afghanistan. It was made clear to India: "We don't want a war with anyone. War is not a solution to anything. We want the Kashmir issue to be resolved via the United Nations resolutions and dialogue, but this desire for peace should not be misconstrued as a weakness."
Afghanistan was conveyed that it should put its own house in order, especially eliminate terrorists who are targeting Pakistan from its soil. General Asif Ghafoor listed the successes achieved in the ongoing operations and the sacrifices rendered by the army personnel and civilians. The resolve and determination to annihilate the remnants of terrorists was reiterated and till that time the campaign would continue unabated.
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