RAWALPINDI: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor held a news conference on Thursday, warning the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) not to cross the line.
The military spokesman said the army was using confidence-building measures with the PTM and not handling them with heavy-handedness. “They [PTM] are hurt and have suffered in the war. We still want to deal with them politely but they are headed in the direction where the same will happen to them which happens when the state establishes its writ.”
During his news conference, Major General Ghafoor outlined the three demands of the PTM and the steps which had been taken to address them. The first demand of the PTM was over check posts, with the military spokesman informing reporters that Pakistan Army had decreased its check posts in KP-Fata to 331. “When we believe there is no need for even one check post we will remove them.”
The second demand of the PTM was to clear landmines, the process of which DG ISPR said was underway. “Our troops have also suffered casualties due to these mines and unexploded bombs. One day we will clear the area of mines,” he added.
The DG ISPR spoke on the third demand of the PTM which war over missing persons. He said there were 7,000 mission persons cases from 2010-11. “From these 7,000 cases over 4,000 have been settled. 3,000 plus cases are under process with 2,000 cases with the commission.”
According to Major General Ghafoor, it could not be proven that those missing were not part of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or any other faction. “We want this process to move further and for it to be resolved.
He stressed that the PTM was headed in a direction where they might cross the line and the state would have to use force against them.
‘Pakistan standing at a watershed’
Speaking on the country’s future, DG ISPR said Pakistan was standing at a watershed where the country could either head in the right direction or not. He said lessons should be learnt from the past, adding that the country had internal and external fault lines. “Our internal fault lines were exploited by our enemies.”
He also called on the media to play a positive role in projecting Pakistan’s image. “Media is the fourth pillar of the state and you [journalists] are the opinion makers. If just for six months you create positive public awareness about Pakistan both locally and internationally, see where the country reaches.”
Major General Ghafoor called on everyone to play their role for a more prosperous Pakistan.
Security situation
In his statements on Pakistan’s security situation, DG ISPR said Pakistan’s war on terror had been mostly fought in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata. He said terrorist incidents had decreased in Pakistan.
“In 2013 on the average there were 7-8 terrorist incidents monthly. In 2018 this average has decreased and hope the day comes when there are no terrorist incidents in Pakistan.”
The military spokesman also compared Balochistan to KP, Fata and spoke on the deployment of troops in these areas. He said in Fata which was 3 per cent of the country’s geography over 200,000 troops had been deployed. There were 65,000-70,000 troops deployed in Balochistan which was 43 per cent of the country’s geography and 6 per cent of the population.
“Lately we have changed the deployment there [Balochistan]. Our forces and headquarters were initially in Quetta but according to the geography we have split them to different sectors and done a readjustment. But this readjustment more than operations is aimed at providing security to socio-economic projects.“
He added terrorist incidents in Balochistan had also decreased. “In 2016 there 119 abduction cases, in 2017 there were 82 and in 2018 there were 46. The graph of terrorist incidents has also decreased”
According to the military spokesman, the Pakistan Army was focusing more on Balochistan due to the improved security situation in KP and Fata.
Speaking on the surrender of Ferraris in the province, the DG ISPR informed reporters that over 2,200 had done so in the last three years. “This is a good step and it is my request to those [Ferraris] in the mountains who want to destabilise the country on the directives of those sitting abroad to join the national mainstream and play their role in the prosperity of Pakistan and Balochistan.”
On Karachi, he said in the last few years the law and order situation had immensely improved in the city. “In 2013 there 4,508 various incidents in the city…in 2017 there was no terrorist incident and in 2018 barring the Chinese Consulate attack and minor bridge blast the security situation is really good. The credit for this goes to Pakistan Rangers Sindh and other law enforcement agencies. There has been a 99 per cent decrease in terrorism, 97 per cent in target killing, 96 per cent in extortion and 93 per cent in kidnapping for ransom cases.”
“At one time Karachi was number 6 according to the crime rate in the world. Today Karachi is 67th. There are several cities of first class countries which have a higher crime rate than Karachi.”
Briefing reporters on Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad which was nearing two years, the military spokesman said till now 44 major operations had taken place across the country and 42,000 IBOs and combing operations.
“Our aim of de-weaponising has not progressed as we hoped. We are working with the government through legislation and licensing process to improve this. Till now near 32,000 weapons have been recovered from across the country and 4.34 million types of ammunition.”
The DG ISPR stressed that no war could end just by conducting operations. “When your kinetic operations end there is a need for socio-economic development. “
According to the spokesman, the army with the government was working on socio-economic projects and if they continued on this track enduring peace would be established.
The number of polio cases in the country has also decreased, and the day would come when Pakistan would be polio-free, DG ISPR said.
He also spoke on the threat on the western border, stating that if there could be surety from Afghanistan, Pakistan could bring its troops back. “We cannot do this because of the threat…The fencing will be complete by next year and this will lead to a decrease in cross-border attacks.”
Army’s accountability
Commenting on the accountability process of the Pakistan Army, DG ISPR said, “We are a disciplined force. There is a chain of command and rules and regulations. There is a branch which is tasked with discipline and accountability.”
He added despite the measures in place if rules were violated punishment was given. “In 2017-18 almost 400 Pakistan officers have been given punishments which range from a warning to dismissals and even jail.”
The military spokesman also said officers faced stricter punishments than soldiers.
Relations with India
The DG ISPR told reporters ceasefire violations at the Line of Control (LoC) had risen.
“In 2017 there were 1,881 ceasefire violations and this year till now there have been 2,593 violations. In 2018 there were 55 civilians martyred and 300 injured which is the most in history.”
He added that the civilians’ casualties showed India was deliberately targeting civilians. “We cannot target civilians like this. Ceasefire violations is a concern and we hope Indian understands they impact this was on relations.”
Further, Major General Ghafoor said the Pakistani government had taken several initiatives with India so relations could improve. He said the Indian government does not agree to diagloue.
He added that the government had tkaen the initiaive in Kartarpur and made a corridor for the Sikh community so they could fulfil their obligations.
“The government took the initiative to make the Kartarpur corridor which was projected in a negative light in the Indian media,” he said.
Showing a slide of the corridor, the DG ISPR said from the point of entry there would be fencing till the place of worship and there would only be one-way entry. “This is a good project which the government will complete in six months. It will have a capacity of 4,000 pilgrims daily. We hope India will give a good response to this goodwill gesture of ours.”
Responding to a recent statement by the Indian army chief in which he said talks could not be held until Pakistan became a secular state, DG ISPR said: “They [India] do not need to tell us what kind of country we should be. Are they secular? Look what is happening to the 200 million Muslims there.”
Afghan reconciliation
The military spokesman said there was a need for political reconciliation in Afghanistan, when asked about US President Donald Trump’s letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan. He emphasised that Pakistan had always stressed the need for a political reconciliation in Afghanistan.
“Pakistan will take every step to make this reconciliation successful. This political reconciliation must succeed. We hope the US leaves Afghanistan as a friend of the region, not as a failure.”
In response to another question, DG ISPR categorically stated that Pakistan would never fight anyone’s war.
“There is no doubt that we will never fight anyone’s war. This war was imposed on us.”
PM’s statement taken out of context
When asked about Prime Minister Imran Khan’s statement during a recent television interview of the army supporting PTI’s manifesto, DG ISPR replied that he had listened to the prime minister’s interview thrice.
He told reporters that the prime minister’s statement on this issue was taken out of context.
