Statement of ex-COAS Bajwa regarding combat readiness against India, misquoted : ISPR

RAWALPINDI: The military’s media wing explained on Friday that General (ret.) Qamar Javed Bajwa’s remark about “combat worthiness” had been “quoted out of context.” After media discussions on the “Pakistan Army’s combat worthiness in view of the condition of certain weapon systems on its inventory,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) released the statement. The former army chief’s opinions on the potential threat to Pakistan, which he shared with media representatives in an off-the-record interactive session, have been taken out of context, according to the ISPR. The army will always take pride in its “operational preparedness and utmost combat worthiness,” the military’s media wing assured the populace.

“Pakistan’s Armed Forces always did and will continue to keep their weapons, equipment and battle-hardened human resource ever ready for the defence of the motherland,” said the ISPR. The statement comes after journalist Hamid Mir revealed in a TV show that General (retd) Bajwa in a meeting with 20-25 journalists had stated that Pakistan was not in a condition to fight a war with India. Mir’s statement was picked up by Indian media and reported by major news outlets.