Daily Times

RAWALPINDI: Director General Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor said that Pakistan Army is committed to collaborating with the government to strengthen the democratic process and development in the country.

This was stated by DG ISPR while addressing a news Conference in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

He clarified that the tweet of 29th of last month was not aimed at any government office or person and the issue has been settled after issuance of notification by Interior Ministry. He appreciated government’s efforts to resolve the issue and redressing misunderstandings.

DG ISPR said Pakistan wants the resolution of all outstanding issues with Afghanistan, including border management. He said that the exchange of firing with Afghan Security Force in Chaman last week was unfortunate incident and Pakistan had only responded to the Afghan aggression in self-defence.

DG ISPR said Afghanistan is a brotherly country of Pakistan and was informed before the census process along the border. He said Pakistan and Afghanistan are enjoying good relations and will further improve these relations.

Asif Ghafoor said the number of deaths on Afghan side in Chaman incident is not important, adding that this incident should have not occurred and the coordination between the two countries should have been better.

Rejecting New Delhi’s blame of mutilating Indian soldiers bodies by Pakistan Army troops, he said Pakistan Army is a highly professional force and shall never disrespect a soldier even if he is an Indian. He said Pakistan remains fully committed to maintaining peace along the Line of Control (LOC) and expects the same gesture from the other side as well.

To a question, he said the issue of Kulbhushan Yadav is pending with the military court. He said the Foreign Ministry will respond in International Court of Justice over the Kulbhushan issue.

To another question, he said Twitter the fastest medium of communication and Pak Army had expressed its concerns over the notification issued by the Prime Minister’s office.

While shedding light on Pakistan Army’s opinion on Dawn Leaks issue, he said the previous notification issued by PM Office lacked necessary recommendations, adding that the rejection of the notification was not aimed at any government office or person.

“Everything that happened after the press release shouldn’t have had happened. The objective of ISPR press release was not making two sides,” he added. He praised government’s role in eliminating civil-military tensions.

ISPR DG also commented on the Chaman Border issue in which Afghan forces opened unprovoked fire at villages on Pakistan side of the border, martyring census team and security officials.

“Afghanistan is a brotherly state. Any kind of fire shouldn’t have occured,” he said while mentioning that there were two villages shared equally by Pakistan and Afghanistan.

On a question about retaliation of Pakistani forces against Afghanistan, Asif Ghafoor said they were forced to take action.

Also, he rejected the Indian allegation of violating LoC ceasefire as well as killing and mutilating Indian soldiers.

He said Pakistan Army is a highly professional force and shall never disrespect a soldier even Indian. “India banned medical visas for Pakistan which created worries for patients here,” he also mentioned.

DG ISPR regretted the ‘environment of division’ between the civil and military institutions following the April 29 tweet.

“What happened after the press release [ISPR tweet] is regrettable,” he said, adding that two sides were pitted against one another, which should not have been done.

“We appreciate the government’s move to implement Para 18 of the committee’s recommendations and settlement of the matter as stated in the Interior Ministry’s notification [issued today],” he explained.

Army is a strong state institution, supports the Constitution, democracy and rule of law as much as any Pakistani.

“On the Raddul Fasaad front, there are two things I would like to clarify,” Major General Ghafoor said. “With respect to Naureen Leghari, she has been moved to a deradicalisation centre,” he said.

He said Pakistan Army has been working to “deradicalise” youth for at least three years now. “We’ve placed them in deradicalisation centers … They’ve transformed into responsible citizens, earn a living for their parents and contribute to the Pakistani society at large,” he said.

Naureen’s story, he said, goes to show how “our youth is being brainwashed”. Moving on to the reason behind airing Ehsanullah Ehsan’s confession, the Army spokesperson said it was only to show how people are being exploited for personal gains.

“Showing his interview was not by any means intended to portray him as a hero,” Maj Gen Ghafoor said.