"No other country than Pakistan is interested in peace in Afghanistan because we understand that peace in Afghanistan means peace in Pakistan," he said. The Army spokesman stressed that no organized infrastructure of a terrorist organization exists in Pakistan. His statement was in reference to the unfounded talk by the US and Afghanistan on the presence of terrorist bases in Pakistan.
"We have been saying that our country has fought twice an imposed and imported war inside Pakistan. We have sacrificed a lot. We have paid a huge price both in blood and treasure. We have done enough and we cannot do any more for anyone. Whatever we are doing and shall, will only be done for Pakistan."
The spokesperson clarified that the Coalition Support Fund, received from the US, is reimbursement of money spent for operations in support of the coalition for regional peace. "Had we not supported, al Qaeda would not have been defeated," the ISPR chief stated. Commenting on blaming Pakistan for inaction against the Haqqani Network, Ghafoor said: "Blame for inaction against the Haqqani Network might have been relevant owing to our capacity issues till Zarb-e-Azb."
However, he added, the Army went into North Waziristan indiscriminately and took action against the Haqqani Network as well. "The effect of any operation did not appear at that time. What we do today or this year, the impact will be felt in subsequent years and months." He further said if there are any facilitators or abettors inside Pakistan then it can only be addressed if 2.7 million Afghan refugees are sent back to Afghanistan for which pull factors needed to be created by Kabul and Washington.
According to the spokesperson, Pakistan is contributing in a big way to assist peace in Afghanistan. "To control cross-border movement, we have started to fence 2,611 kilometers of Pak-Afghan border. We have also started construction of additional posts and forts. On an average at every 1.5-2 kilometers, we will have a physical presence." He added that additional FC wings have been raised to enhance the capacity along the border. He also spoke about the Indian aggression along the Line of Control (LoC).
General Ghafoor said that India did not want Pakistan to succeed in the war against terrorism and has increased ceasefire violations across the LoC in 2017. "Fifty-two civilians were martyred and 254 got injured [in the 1,813 violations]," he said. He said that India had falsely claimed on December 25 that their soldiers had entered Pakistan and killed Pakistani soldiers.
He stressed that this is a false propaganda being created by India for their domestic audience to divert their focus from the effective struggle they are facing in the form of freedom movement in Kashmir. "While our political, diplomatic and moral support continues and will continue for the just struggle of our Kashmir brothers, you cannot lure us into unprofessional undertakings to reinforce your beaten narrative of our physical interference in occupied Kashmir," he said.
He also added that the "US needs to check the anti-Pakistan Indian role not only from inside Afghanistan but also through the enhanced and increased ceasefire violations along the LoC and Working Boundary so that we remain focused in our efforts for peace not only in Pakistan but beyond the region." According to Major General Ghafoor, "Only engagement based on trust and cooperation will take us forward, not coercion." "We must prepare ourselves for the 5th generation warfare being imposed on us by the enemy. All Pakistani media outlets including social media need to be aware of this threat and act accordingly," he added.
Major General Ghafoor termed Federal Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique's statement about the army irresponsible and unwarranted as the chain of command had been targeted along with the subordination system of Pakistan Army. Answering a question about Pak-US relations, the DG ISPR said, "We are friends and allies. When it comes to the respect of Pakistan and security, we will do whatever is the best and do it together as a nation. We do not want any type of confrontation. But state-level statements are one thing and implementation is another."
Sharing terror incidents averted by intelligence agencies, the ISPR chief said 254 incidents were averted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA, 177 in Balochistan, 28 in Sindh and 18 in Punjab. Moreover, sharing statistics, the DG ISPR said the army implemented 768 development and public sector projects. He added that 96 per cent of temporarily displaced persons have returned to their native areas in the tribal areas. During the press conference, Ghafoor also gave details of major intelligence achievements of the year.
Multiple terror networks were busted by security forces, which included Ansar-ul-Sharia Karachi, TTP's Lahore and Swabi chapters, JuA's Kurram chapter and others. He added that forces also apprehended six suicide bombers and 14 terror threats were averted. The ISPR spokesman further stated that during the year, 946 threat warnings were issued, out of which 227 were issued in September and October. He added the Army is a very disciplined and organized institution and "if this discipline and subordination is not present in the Army, it would not be the best in the world."
"Pakistan Army is an institution which takes pride in its institutional mechanism," he further said, referring the minister's statement that it was taken with concern. "There are some institutions which are also protected by the Constitution," he said, adding the statement [Saad Rafique's] was in violation of the Constitution. "If the Army is determined and confident to stay within the bounds of the Constitution, it is the responsibility of every citizen to respect the law and the Constitution and stay within its bounds," he said.
The DG ISPR commenting on the recent meeting between Indian spy Kulbhshan Jadhav with this mother and wife, said there was no pressure for this. "If there was pressure, we would have agreed to consular access." He said: "A spy who is an established terrorist was given a chance to meet his family on humanitarian grounds and this should have been appreciated. But India will never do that." During the question-answer session, he added, "Kulbhushan's case - we take him as an Indian agent who on Indian orders was working to create instability in Pakistan."
The spokesperson when asked about Indian allegations of Jadhav's family being harassed, responded, "The Foreign Office had informed India that Jadhav's family would have to go through a security check and the types of checks which would take place."
Towards the end of the press conference, the army spokesperson shared a special message from Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa: "As there is an established conglomeration of anti-Pakistan forces (state/non-state) attempting to destabilize and weaken Pakistan, we must continue to present a united front to defeat their nefarious designs."
Touching on the internal political situation of the country, he said Pakistan Army is well aware of the threat and challenges the country is facing. "We do not want to get distracted and aim to take Pakistan towards peace and stability. The Army has no response to events in the political domain. If there is a conspiracy [about Army's involvement in politics], they should come up with evidence."
He said that the military relations with Afghanistan are not ideal but there have been improvement following the army chief's visit. "Pakistan-Afghanistan military-to-military engagement is important. We cannot call it ideal, but the situation has improved after the army chief's visit to Kabul," he added. With regard to a statement of former Army Chief and President General Pervez Musharraf (retd), the Army spokesperson said he is the spokesperson for the sitting army chief. "A clarification [in this regard] should be sought from Musharraf. [At present] there cannot be any rogue element in Pakistan Army," he said.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017