ISPR Director General Lt-General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry while denying any talks or backdoor contacts with incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan has made it crystal clear that the Army has no interest in holding talks with political parties.
In an interview with BBC which was recorded on May 18 and published on Friday, the military’s spokesman said “We are always clear on this issue. The is politicians’ job to hold talks among them. Please do not drag Pakistan’s armed forces into it.”
He said “We are not interested in holding talks with political parties. We only talk to the State of Pakistan which as per the Constitution was formed by the political parties. Whichever the government is in office it is the State and Armed Forces work under this State.”
When asked as to why the Army is blamed for every political instability in Pakistan, the ISPR DG said “This question should be asked from those politicians or political powers who try to make it controversial. It’s probably because of their incompetency or weaknesses which they deliberately ignore or do not want to pay attention to. I won’t comment on their political interests. We will request them to keep their politics to themselves and far away from the armed forces of Pakistan.”
The ISPR DG said democratic government summons army whenever it is required for public service. He said for political benefits, rumors are spread against Army, adding that there was a rumor that the army does not do its job and is involved in politics. But during Indian aggression, truth revealed as Army done its job in an excellent way. He said during Marka-e-Haq "did the nation feel the army was lacking in any aspect? No, not at all.
He added, “We are fully committed to our professional responsibilities and our commitment is to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the people of Pakistan and the security of Pakistanis. That is what the army does."
DG ISPR further elaborated that, "one should avoid paying attention to politically motivated assumptions without any evidence. Do you think that an army, which is said to be divided and cut off from its people, can do all this? Absolutely not. We are not only united like a rock internally, but also united as a nation."
To a question that the army is also accused of interfering in civilian affairs and that the army is not acting upon its mandate, Lt-General Ahmad Sharif Ch said Pakistan's army on many occasions follows the orders and instructions of the political government, be it federal or provincial.
He said, "I don't want to go too far into the past, but who led the response in Pakistan during corona virus? The Ministry of Health? The army had nothing to do with it, but who was running the NCOC? Who led the entire response? It was army."
He said, "At that time, no one had any problem with us. In this country, when polio teams go out for vaccination, the army accompanies them. When WAPDA wants to check electricity meters, the army is requested to go along because the locals create problems there."
Director General Lt-General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said, "In this country, during my service, I have also cleaned canals. We are the people's army, and whenever the government of the day, be it federal or provincial, asks us, the army comes to the aid of the Pakistani government and people to the extent possible."
Lt-General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said that "the army that is present in the areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan for internal security is also on the orders of the provincial government. We do not make these decisions ourselves. These political forces decide where the army should be deployed."
When asked whether any operation to establish law and order in Balochistan could be successful without the support of the local population, the DG ISPR said, “This is propaganda spread by India that the people of Balochistan are not with the Pakistani army.”
He clarified that those who are sitting with strategic misconceptions should clear their minds. Lt-General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry made it clear that the people of Balochistan are not with the armed forces of Pakistan is absolutely wrong. The people of Balochistan are with Pakistan. He said these were the facts and no one should have any doubt about it. “Balochistan and Pakistan are one. This is the crown of our heads. There is no separation between Balochistan and Pakistan”.
He further said, "These assumptions have been created by those who are working with Indian money and are giving these opposite ideas. 'RAW' has created thousands of fake social media accounts which are running in Europe and they live in a delusion that there is widespread anti-Pakistan sentiment in Balochistan. This is absolutely not true." DG ISPR said, "Who are the terrorists operating in Balochistan targeting?
Why terrorists are afraid of direct confrontation with Army. “If they come in front of us, we kill them. They came to Gwadar, we eliminated them. Wherever they come to attack our posts, we kill them. Who are they targeting? They are targeting unarmed civilians."
Lt-General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry said "terrorists are attacking the people, taking people off buses and killing them. They are targeting easy targets. Are such actions giving them any respect among the people? Do you think the people are saying that you are doing a great job? What are they really targeting? They are attacking everything that is essential for the development and prosperity of Balochistan."
He said, “No one has the right to make anyone disappear”. The DG ISPR said that a commission is working to recover missing persons, but also said that the military does not allow enforced disappearances.
He added, "Having said that, let me make it clear that no one has the right to make anyone disappear, abduct them, and detain them unjustly. No law allows this. We strictly prohibit it and whoever is responsible is sought out and held accountable."
To a question about cyber security and surveillance of civilians, He said, "There are certain principles and laws of freedom of expression, and they are important because society cannot function without them."
To a question about censorship on media, DG ISPR said that media channels have their own priorities and editorial controls regarding their reporting. Then PEMRA has a legal framework. They have signed it themselves and as license holders are bound to follow it. “Now when they themselves follow these principles, people make assumptions on it, on which we do not feel the need to comment.”
He said Afghan soil was being used in anti Pakistan activities therefore Pakistan took steps to send back Afghan refugees to Afghanistan. He urged “Afghans not to allow their land to be used against Pakistan."