Pakistan’s soil will not be used against any country: DG ISPR

[ghazi52]

'Pakistan won’t get embroiled in US-Iran conflict'

January 5, 2020

Experts say Islamabad has set certain red lines including not allowing its soil to be used against Iran. PHOTO: FILE

ISLAMABAD: As the Middle East crises took turn for the worst on Friday after the US assassinated one of the top Iranian generals, Pakistani authorities, responsible for crafting the country’s strategy, immediately went to the drawing board to discuss different options.

While in-house consultations continue, the decision makers have already arrived at the conclusion that Pakistan will not get embroiled in the ongoing US-Iran conflict. Also Pakistan has set certain red lines and one of the red lines includes not allowing its soil to be used against Iran. If Pakistan were to play any role that would be one for seeking de-escalation and peace in the region.

Speaking to a private news channel, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) director general made it abundantly clear that Pakistan will not become party to the ongoing regional tensions in what appears to be a policy statement laying down the country’s approach.

“Pakistan will not be a party to anyone or anything but will be a partner of peace and peace alone,” he said.

The statement by DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor, according to observers and defense analysts, is significant against the backdrop of brewing tensions in the Middle East after the US killed Major General Qassem Solemani in drone strikes on Friday.

Soleimani was the head of Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRCG). He was considered the most powerful figure in Iran after the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

The unprecedented move by the Trump administration has put the region on the cusp of a major conflict that will surely impact Pakistan as well as other countries.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s telephone to Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday night triggered widespread speculations that Washington was seeking Pakistan’s cooperation against Iran.

However, the chief military spokesperson dismissed such speculations. Maj-Gen Ghafoor, while quoting both Prime Minister Imran Khan and COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa, made it clear that Pakistan would not allow its territory to be used against any country.

Although, the DG ISPR didn’t say it explicitly, many observers interpreted his statement as a clear announcement by Pakistan not to become party to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

“Pakistan stands for peace and is making all-out efforts for regional peace,” he said. The army spokesperson noted that Islamabad played a significant role in the Afghan peace process but the regional situation had changed due to Soleimani’s assassination.

He said the army chief had emphasised on reducing regional tensions in his conversation with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after the attack. Gen Qamar stressed that tensions between Tehran and Washington should de-escalate as the region could not bear the brunt of another war, he added.

The DG ISPR also dispelled speculations that the US decision to restore military training program for Pakistan had anything to do with ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Maj-Gen Ghafoor said Pakistan and the US had been discussing this issue for months and linking it with the current regional tensions was nothing but a propaganda being advanced by India. He advised media and public to pay attention only to the statements coming from an authentic source.

Giving context to the DG ISPR’s statement, Lt General (retd) Amjad Shoaib said the US might be seeking Pakistan’s help against Iran as it did against Afghan Taliban after 9/11 attacks. However, he made it clear that there was difference between extending support to US against Afghan invasion than joining hands with Washington against Iran.

Gen Shoaib said there was no question of Pakistan allowing US to use its air space or air bases against Iran. “No one in Pakistan will accept such a decision,” he maintained.

He further said the US in any case did not need Pakistan’s help since it had military bases in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Qatar and even it had deployed an aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea.

A senior official told The Express Tribune that Pakistan would continue to seek de-escalation in tensions in the region.

The official said the army chief conveyed the same message to Secretary Pompeo that all parties must strive for defusing the explosive situation in the Middle East.

 

[Ahmet Pasha]

I sure hope they mean it.

I remember how last time we used to protest drone strikes and later turned out they had authorization from us.

 

[Zibago]

Who gives a damn about Pakistani wishes. Just ask PM Khan and his wish to attend the Kuala Lumpur Summit and how that ended. It only took $5 billion to buy PM Khan.

The burn in hearts of baboon leagis is real both political and military leaderships have given the same answer
We are not getting in the Iran war

 

[araz]

I would put the extension of COAS/in perspective with the cureent situation. This may have been in the offing for some time. IK might have felt that Bajwa/might be a better bet rarher than some new man who might be tempted to make a coup and take over govtt. You have to see Pompei's call to Bajwa in that perspective. It is very important that Pak military and polity remains on the same page in this regards. I think this is the only scenario which makes sense to me.
A

 

[StormBreaker]

I would put the extension of COAS/in perspective with the cureent situation. This may have been in the offing for some time. IK might have felt that Bajwa/might be a better bet rarher than some new man who might be tempted to make a coup and take over govtt. You have to see Pompei's call to Bajwa in that perspective. It is very important that Pak military and polity remains on the same page in this regards. I think this is the only scenario which makes sense to me.
A

From the looks of it, this current scenario is just a branch of a tree as to what has happened/will happen. Really complicating times i must say !!!

It was wise to give an extension

 

[TheDarkKnight]

I would put the extension of COAS/in perspective with the cureent situation. This may have been in the offing for some time. IK might have felt that Bajwa/might be a better bet rarher than some new man who might be tempted to make a coup and take over govtt. You have to see Pompei's call to Bajwa in that perspective. It is very important that Pak military and polity remains on the same page in this regards. I think this is the only scenario which makes sense to me.
A

Good point; it makes sense for the sudden show of love from opposition for extension amendment.

 

[flameboard]

Pakistan US relations summarised.
Pakistan is always there when needed. US usually places sanction or restrictions when Pakistan needs the US

 

[Xestan]

I find it really problematic that DG ISPR is giving policy statements. We should just close down the Foreign Ministry then. Someone wake up Peer of Multan and tell him a soldier is doing his job.

 

[Wrath]

View attachment 598100

India had successfully convinced American administration (Obama's regime) to cut-off relations with Pakistan and develop friendly ones with Iran. The plan was to get a successful nuclear deal for Iran by convincing Israel and America. In response, Indians would help them to replace the supply route from Pakistan to Iran (Chahbahar) for NATO/ISAF Forces. US Military Establishment was unsure about India’s capability to implement the blueprints because of the heavy presence of the Taliban and other groups on the Iran/Afghan border. Americans sensed the reason of India’s enforcement of this strategy. Instead of helping Americans, this idea would practically only serve India’s interest which was to open another front against Pakistan similar to Afghanistan. This would in turn further destabilize Pakistan through the terrorist regimes.

Despite close relations with India, Israel had shown disagreement over the US/Iran nuclear deal which was later reversed in the Trump administration. India has already lost a huge amount of investment in Afghanistan. The majority of terrorist regimes, that were being used by the Indian establishment, have already been neutralized by the Pakistan military in on Pak/Afghan border.
.
BattlespaceX Pakistan Defence Pakistan Army

A great decision indeed .



We don't wanna be a part of any hanky panky .

 

[Wrath]

Who gives a damn about Pakistani wishes. Just ask PM Khan and his wish to attend the Kuala Lumpur Summit and how that ended. It only took $5 billion to buy PM Khan.

Here you are again ....

 

[SIPRA]

Here you are again ....

Yes. He is.

 

[SIPRA]

Good point; it makes sense for the sudden show of love from opposition for extension amendment.

"Aik he saff main kharhay ho gayay Zardari o Shahbaz
Na koi pipliya raha aur nay koi banda e Nawaz"

 

[araz]

From the looks of it, this current scenario is just a branch of a tree as to what has happened/will happen. Really complicating times i must say !!!

It was wise to give an extension

It did not make any sense at that time because the background information was not there for us to join the dots and see the bigger picture. I still dont know whether this is the right picture I have seen but for the moment it seems to be the most plausible.
A

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

It did not make any ssense at that time because thew background information was not there for us to join the dots and see the bigger picture. I still dont know whether this is the right picture I have seen but for the moment it seems to be the most plausible.
A

To me it looks like a carefully planned setup. Americans now have a ceasefire agreement with Taliban in Afghanistan and for past few months they are trying to cosy up with us. They have not reacted strongly to Turkish intervention in Libya either.

And through out last year we have seen Air defense Systems and military equipment getting transferred to Israel, (US transferred THAAD to them they had requested them repeatedly before but were always denied) Kuwait and rest of GCC. It was happening so often that people ignored it after the first few times because nothing was happening. It looks like they were setting the stage for all this.

 

[Foxtrot Delta]

This is my pakistan. Everything is being done as if im the one ruling it.Im proud of pakistaniz