US and Afghanistan need to do more : DG ISPR

[Devil Soul]

It is time that Afghanistan and the US do more for Pakistan: DG ISPR
Dawn.comUpdated December 28, 2017
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Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Asif Ghafoor at the press conference — DawnNews

"It is time Afghanistan and the US do more for Pakistan," Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor remarked on Thursday while addressing a press briefing on the national and regional security situation.

Referring to the United States' (US) demands to act against the alleged presence of terrorist elements in Pakistan, Maj Gen Ghafoor clarified again that: "No organised infrastructure of any banned organisation is present in Pakistan. We have fought an imposed and imported war twice in Pakistan and now we cannot do any more for anyone."

"Whatever we are doing, and we will do, is solely for the people of Pakistan. The aid we received (from the US) was reimbursement for the support we gave to the coalition for its fight against Al Qaeda. Had we not supported the US and Afghanistan, they would never have been able to defeat Al Qaeda," he added.

"There are no facilitators [of terrorist groups] in Pakistan and we have gone a long way towards supporting peace in the region," Maj Gen Ghafoor insisted, reiterating Pakistan's stance on the US's repetitive demand for the country to "do more".

Discussing measures taken by Pakistan to stop cross-border infiltration of terrorists, Ghafoor said: "We have started the construction of forts and posts on the Afghan border for effective border management — what more does the US and Afghanistan want from us?"

"No country is more interested in Afghan peace than us, as we know that peace there [Afghanistan] means peace in Pakistan," the DG ISPR stressing, adding that the US needs to check India's role in the Afghan region.

"No amount of coercion can work — it is only trust-based cooperation that can bring enduring peace to the region," he said

"What kind of friends are we that we are being given notices [by the US]?" he asked, adding that while Pakistan Army was willing to work with its friends, it cannot compromise on its respect.

Moving on to the Indian army's recent claims that it infiltrated Pakistan's borders, Maj Gen Ghafoor said: "India recently claimed that 10 of their soldiers came in Pakistan's territory and killed Pakistani soldiers. But this is all false propaganda for their domestic audience to take the focus off the effective political struggle they are facing for Kashmir's freedom."

"You cannot lure us into such unprofessional undertakings," the DG ISPR said.

He also thanked all media outlets for not giving in to Indian propaganda and running the "false" story regarding Indian infiltration into Pakistan.

Regarding India's complaints on Kulbushan Jadhav's meeting with his mother and wife, Maj Gen Ghafoor said: "India always looks to reduce the relevance of any gestures that Pakistan makes. However, every effort that anti-Pakistan elements make, we will counter."

"The Foreign Office has given a detailed response [to the Indian accusations]. Even if we do something as a good gesture, the Indian media will colour it in a negative light. We allowed Jadhav to meet his family as a responsible state — if we were irresponsible, we would have given in to Indian pressure and allowed consular access to him," the DG ISPR said.

He concluded: "This will not impact the case at all."

Talking about the army's presence on the borders, "We have fought well on western borders despite the threats that linger on the eastern border, but danger has not subsided yet."

"When we started action in Fata, the troublemakers turned to Balochistan," he observed.

"[However,] the army took the situation in Balochistan into account and the army chief presented the Khushal Balochistan programme on November 15," he said.

He added that the purpose of the programme was to provide resources to help speed up development, provide security, carry out action against terrorism, and cleanse the region of separatist elements.

"As a result of the programme, over 2,000 Baloch nationalists have given up their arms," he stated.

While answering a question regarding Maryam Nawaz and Nawaz Sharif's continuous tirade against the armed forces, Maj Gen Ghafoor said, "We will maintain our silence on the matter as Pakistan's armed forces are well aware of the threats and challenges we are facing and our achievements against them; thus we will not be distracted."

He added: "Political activity is ongoing. It is for the people to decide for themselves if there is a conspiracy in the country, and if they believe there is one, they should tell us what it is."

Discussing Minister for Railway Saad Rafique's remarks regarding junior officers' apparent lack of commitment to the army chief's orders, the DG ISPR said, "The statement was extremely irresponsible and unwarranted, as it targets the chain of command. The Pakistan Army is a disciplined institution and the army chief's orders are followed without question."

He added: "The army takes pride in its discipline. These remarks should not have been made."

When asked about former president Pervez Musharraf's recent statements regarding "rogue elements" being responsible for Benazir's death, the army spokesman said, "I am the spokesperson for the sitting army chief and the media should ask Musharraf to defend his own statements. As of now, I can say that there are no rogue elements within the Pakistan Army."

 

[Devil Soul]

Pakistan has done enough for everyone, will not do more: DG ISPR
By News Desk
Published: December 28, 2017
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PHOTO: FILE

Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Chief Major General Asif Ghafoor in a media briefing today strongly remarked that Pakistan has done enough for everyone for decades and will not do more.

“We cannot do more on dictation by any country,” he stated.

DG ISPR stated that Pakistan ensures peace on all fronts and it is the duty of the army to stabilise the region. India has been carrying out surgical strikes and spreading false propaganda and Pakistan will not be reactive to such false lies anymore.













“You can not lure us to your unprofessional tactics,” he noted.

When asked about the ‘conspiracy theory’ surrounding Nawaz’s ouster and the role the army played in his disqualification the general said, “We will continue to maintain silence on this. The Pakistan Armed Forces and army are well aware of the threats we are facing since the last many years. We are not going to let this affect us.” He further added that “Political activity has its own domain, the army will not respond to this. If there is a conspiracy, there needs to be evidence.”

DG ISPR said that through Zarb-e-Azb, Pakistan has tried to eliminate terrorism and will continue the efforts.

We don’t want conflict with friends but we will ensure country’s defence, he said on the constant threats being posed by the US.

“Pakistan army cannot compromise on its honor. We will not fight for money against terrorism.”

On the subject of Afghanistan, Ghafoor said, “Peace in Afghanistan is in Pakistan’s interest and will”

“We have dismantled all terror networks in FATA,” said Ghafoor while sharing statistics and graphs of number of casualties and terror attacks recorded since 2013.

He further said that the Indian propaganda is for its local media only. “India wants to divert attention from atrocities in Kashmir thus they continue malpractices but Pakistan will continue fighting for the right of the Kashmiri people.”

DG ISPR ‘disappointed’ by Ahsan’s statement, ‘stands by’ his comments
On US threatening Pakistan over Haqqani network, Ghafoor stated, “We are confident that there is no organised terror network inside Pakistan, US and Afghan authorities are well aware that Pakistan tackled the Haqqanis too. They are no more valid.”

However, he mentioned that military-to-military engagement between Pakistan and Afghanistan is very important. “I won’t say the engagement is ideal but there has been an improvement after army chief visit to Afghanistan.”

“We are confident that there is no more organised terror in Pakistan.”

On the role of media in war he said that, “Media’s role is vital in fifth generation war.”

“We have established state’s writ across the country, law and order situation has evidently improved in Karachi particularly,” he added.

DG ISPR commented on Jadhav’s meeting with the spy’s family saying “India will never appreciate Pakistan for the humanity it shows. Good acts of Pakistan still continues to receive negative treatment in India”

“Anti-Pakistan elements will continue to thwart our systems,” he said while speaking on Kulbhushan Jadhav case. “A spy who is an established terrorist on humanitarian grounds was given a chance to meet his family, this should have been appreciated. But India will never do that.”

“We had no pressure regarding Jadhav, if there was pressure, we would have agreed to consular access, it was purely on humanitarian grounds,” DG said.

Responding to a question regarding the conspiracy surrounding Jadhav’s wife’s shoes, DG ISPR stated that “The foreign office had informed India in advance that when the family arrives in Pakistan, keeping in mind current the geo-political scenario of India and Pakistan.”

Faizabad

When asked about the Rangers’ official distributing envelopes of money to the Faizabad protesters, the general responded, “ISI is an instrument of the prime minister. A two-star officer was handed the responsibility of resolving the [Faizabad protest] issue. In hindsight, there are many comments on the matter. But it was a sensitive issue and was done on the PM’s instructions.”

On a lighter note, he added, “Do you really think we are so naive that we would give Rs1000 to the protestors? It was done to normalise the situation. That’s what is important.”

Referring to the COAS drawing PM Abbasi’s attention to the slump in transfer of cases to military courts, DG ISPR took a jibe at Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who at the order of the PM immediately sent over 100 cases to the military courts, and said, “As far as military courts are concerned, the first tenure was successful. In the second tenure, the interior minister passed more than 100 cases in November.”

“Our job relating to CPEC is only with regards to security,” he said adding that, “we have formulated a specific section in the army for the physical protection of CPEC.”

Socio-economic developments

DG ISPR also briefed the audience about the socio-economic developments in K-P and FATA, “800 km roads were planned by the army for FATA and K-P, 730 kms have been completed, and the rest will be too,” he said with pride.

“The roads start from areas in North Waziristan to facilitate people and to make trade of fruits and vegetables easier.”

Reverting to terrorist attacks, Major Ghafoor claimed a large number of attacks have been averted. “Thanks to our intelligence agencies, we have been able to avert 483 attacks in 2017 alone,” he stated, “of which 254 were averted in K-P and FATA.”

“Development in FATA was not only done through funds of FATA, but there were foreign donors (including the US and UAE) who contributed to the development monetarily also. FATA’s developmental budget for each year is being used, but it is not just our budget,” he said.

Days after the army brokered a deal between protesters in Islamabad and the government, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique came down hard on the army and stated that the role of the armed forces was limited to security and they should not take interest in politics. Rafique, in the senate also stated that the army chief gave a very positive message regarding democracy, but that some rogue elements in the army are not following their commander-in-chief. A reporter asked DG ISPR for a comment on this, further asking about who Rafique may have been referring to. Taking a minute to pause and consider his next statement, the DG said, “His statement doesn’t appear to be unintentional. It is a careless statement, you are defying a chain of command and insubordination of Pakistan Army. The army is a disciplined and organised institution, the army follows the chief wherever he goes.”

Ghafoor further added that, “the maximum number of suicide bombers are from Afghanistan.”

Expressing his gratitude towards intelligence agencies, he said, “People don’t know about the attacks averted because those are never really discussed.”

This is a developing story and will be updated accordingly.