Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif on Monday accused a “massive, illegal political mafia” of attempting to sabotage the state’s Azm-i-Istehkam (Resolve for Stability) campaign to serve its vested interests.
Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, the military spokesperson stated that his purpose was to “clarify the army’s stance on some important topics” amidst a surge in “organized propaganda” against the armed forces based on “false and concocted news.”
Key Points:
- “Organized propaganda” against the armed forces is on the rise.
- Azm-i-Istehkam is a “comprehensive counter-terrorism campaign,” not a military operation.
- A “massive illegal, political mafia” is attempting to sabotage the operation.
- The army’s response in the Bannu violence incident was “as per SOP.”
- Controlling riots and maintaining law and order is the responsibility of the provincial government.
- The legal system “gives leeway to perpetrators of May 9.”
- “Digital terrorists” are being given more space.
Responding to a question about potential displacement due to the operation, Lt Gen Sharif said that important issues were being sacrificed for political reasons, and Azm-i-Istehkam was one such example. He emphasized that it was a “comprehensive counter-terrorism campaign” launched through national consensus and not just a military operation.
Last month, the federal government approved the operation to counter a sharp rise in terrorist attacks across the country, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, after the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022.
Lt Gen Sharif clarified that the operation aimed to reinvigorate the National Action Plan (NAP) and not displace people. He accused a “massive illegal, political mafia” of attempting to make the operation controversial through false arguments, driven by a vested interest and financial incentives to subvert the campaign.
He stated that if Operation Azm-i-Istehkam was properly implemented, it would eliminate terrorism and lead to societal and national uplift.
Regarding an alleged audio leak of TTP chief Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud, the DG ISPR questioned the militant’s actions and stated that such narratives would be taken to their logical end, strengthening the resolve for Azm-i-Istehkam.
Earlier this month, the military’s top brass expressed concern over “unwarranted criticism by some quarters and deliberate misrepresentation” of Azm-i-Istehkam. The ISPR noted that this criticism was driven by vested interests.
Questioned about the violence during a peace rally in Bannu, Lt Gen Sharif explained that locals had demanded a peace march after an attack on the city’s cantonment resulted in the martyrdom of eight soldiers. Negative elements joined the march, leading to violence and the army’s response according to standard operating procedures (SOP).
Lt Gen Sharif clarified that controlling riots and law and order is the responsibility of the provincial government. He encouraged protests as a legitimate expression of anger over terrorist incidents.
Addressing the recent sit-in by Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in Islamabad, he emphasized that the state and army have a clear stance on the issue of Palestine and have already sent over 1,100 tonnes of aid to Palestine. He stressed the importance of resolving the TLP issue through dialogue.
Lt Gen Sharif condemned the rise of “digital terrorism” on social media, where individuals use falsehood and propaganda to impose their will on society. He criticized the lack of action against such individuals and the space given to them in the name of freedom of expression.