Armed forces to play due role to achieve vision laid out in NSP: DG ISPR

December 28, 2021

RAWALPINDI: Pakistani armed forces will play their due part in achieving the vision laid out in the National Security Policy (NSP) 2022-2026.

This was stated by Major General Babar Iftikhar, Director General, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) here on Tuesday.

Major General Baber in a statement on Twitter, said that the National Security Policy (NSP) 2022-2026 is an important milestone in strengthening the national security of Pakistan.

He said that the comprehensive framework recognizes interlinkages between various strands of national security, imperative to meet emerging challenges in evolving global environment through a whole of government effort.

The DG ISPR said that Pakistan’s armed forces will play their due part in achieving the vision laid out in the policy.

Federal Cabinet in Monday approved the first ever comprehensive and consensus National Security Policy of Pakistan with special emphasis on economic strategy.

National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf said it is an umbrella document, which entails human security as well as population, health, climate, water, food, energy, and gender security. He said education has been clubbed with the economy.

Dr Moeed said the process of formulating the NSP had begun in 2014 and this document has been approved after getting input from all civil and military institutions, including the private sector. He said Prime Minister Imran Khan will launch the public version of NSP in coming days.

Mooed Yusuf, in a series of tweet, termed it a truly historic achievement and said that a citizen-centric comprehensive National Security Policy with economic security at the core will now be pursued in earnest.

The Advisor said that this umbrella document will, overtime, help guide sectoral policies for the fulfillment of country’s national security objectives.

Moeed Yusuf also thanked the civil and military leadership for all their support and input and added that the policy would not have seen the light of day without the Prime Minister’s constant leadership and encouragement.

He also lauded the entire team of the National Security Division for their hard work and dedication over the years in bringing the policy to fruition.

The success of the policy will lie in its implementation for which a plan has been developed. A public version of the NSP document will be launched by the PM and released in due course.

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World community must stay engaged with Afghanistan: Qureshi tells UN chief

Nuzhat Aftab

August 28, 2021

ISLAMABAD: United Nations Secretary General (UNSG) Antonio Guterres Saturday spoke to Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi over the phone to discuss the evolving situation in war-torn Afghanistan.

According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, the two leaders exchanged views on the current situation in Afghanistan and efforts to promote peace and stability in the country.

Qureshi underscored that Islamabad will continue to play its constructive role in support of the efforts to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan. World community must stay engaged with Afghanistan for the sake of peace and stability in the region, Qureshi said while talking to UN chief.

He appreciated the contribution of the UN in addressing the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and noted that it was imperative for the international community to remain engaged with Afghanistan, including by supporting the Afghan people’s socio-economic and humanitarian needs.

The UN chief expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s role in facilitating the work and humanitarian mission of UN entities in Afghanistan. He sought Pakistan’s continued support in that regard.

The foreign minister assured the UN chief of all possible support to the UN in the fulfillment of its mandate.

He highlighted the facilitation being provided by Pakistan to the international community in evacuation and relocation efforts. FM Qureshi reaffirmed that Pakistan will continue to assist the UN in all possible ways.

Meanwhile, FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi Saturday received a telephone call from Dominic Raab, the secretary for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs and first secretary of state of the United Kingdom.

Matters of mutual interest, latest developments in Afghanistan and other matters were discussed during the telephonic conversation.

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Renowned educationist and human rights activist Rubina Saigol passes away

Asifa Farhat

August 28, 2021

LAHORE: Renowned educationist, feminist, and human rights activist Rubina Saigol has passed away in Lahore after battling COVID-19.

Saigol’s niece Nida Usman Chaudhry confirmed that the deceased had contracted COVID-19 and had been hospitalized for the last 10 days.

Taking to Twitter, Chaudhry announced the sad news and asked people to pray for the departed soul.

“With profound grief and sorrow, I regret to inform that our beloved ruby khala @RubinaSaigol has passed away. Please pray for her. She has left a huge mark on us all and touched many lives. Will honor her memory and carry on the struggle. Inna lillah he wa inna elayhe rajayoon,” she wrote.

Upon learning about Saigol’s demise, condolences started pouring in on social media platforms from journalists, educationists, politicians, and human rights activists.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) wrote that it “mourns the passing of veteran women’s rights activist @RubinaSaigol.”

“Her work on gender, nationalism, human rights and education has inspired three generations of activists and academics. Our deepest condolences to her family, friends and colleagues.”

Women’s Action Forum – Lahore also expressed profound grief and sorrow on Saigol’s death and wrote that the deceased was a pioneering member of the WAF and “was always in the vanguard of the feminist movement in Pakistan.” “She will be deeply missed”, the WAF write.

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‘Something can happen’ at Afghanistan border ‘but we are ready’: ISPR Chief

Tanzeel Ahmed

August 28, 2021

ISLAMABAD: Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar addressed an important press briefing on the Afghanistan issue on Friday, saying that “something can happen” at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border but “we are ready” for all sorts of situations.

Speaking about the situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border from a military perspective, he said that the situation on the ground in Afghanistan changed rapidly — against all expectations, in reference to the swift takeover of the country by Taliban forces, which culminated in the group entering Kabul on August 15.

Apprehensions were always there but, despite all that, the situation along the border is “normal” and “under control” as no untoward incident took place at the border or inside the country, he said.

“We have taken every possible step to maintain security at the border and every movement is under control there. But this does not mean that nothing can happen, something can happen, but we are prepared; it is not that we will be unaware of that,” the military’s spokesperson said.

He said that after August 15, the border had to be closed and reopened several times.

“Soldiers of the Afghan National Army sought refuge in Pakistan several times,” he said. “On different occasions, 94 Afghan soldiers crossed over into Pakistan for safe passage, which was granted to them. We treated them in line with military values and made their return possible.”

There are 78 crossing points at the border and considering the situation, 17 of them have been notified for better management and control of movement.

“Movement from across the border is allowed only to those who are in possession of valid documents,” he said, adding that only five crossing points are currently open for trade while 73 have been closed for security reasons.

Responding to a question, the DG ISPR said Pakistan had expected a spill over into the country as the situation unfolded in Afghanistan but said that the army had been taking several steps to safeguard against the possibility since 2014.

“That is when we upped the ante against the terrorists’ interests […] which were there,” he said, about Pakistan’s operations conducted in the areas along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The DG ISPR said Operation Zarb-e-Azb was the conclusion of major military operations in those areas and then the military started Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad — which covers the whole country and all the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) are involved in it.

Regarding a “possible refugee crisis”, the DG ISPR said that at the moment, there are no refugees at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

The DG ISPR said that other than Afghans, Pakistanis have been the biggest target of violence because of the volatile situation in Afghanistan for the last several decades.

“Pakistan had to bear an expense of $152 billion to fight against terrorism,” he said, adding that the country sacrificed more than 86,000 lives in the process.

Regarding the future, he said that Pakistan “trusts that the Taliban will take effective measures to ensure TTP does not operate against any country.”

The DG ISPR went on to say that India’s role in Afghanistan had been “extremely negative” and the international community needs to understand it.

“India poisoned the minds of the Afghan leadership, its intelligence agencies, as well as the army, thus giving rise to negative statements against Pakistan,” he said.

The military’s spokesman said that India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), together with Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security (NDS) had extended help to terrorist organisations like Daesh and the TTP, among others, to conspire against Pakistan.

He spoke about the recent attacks on Chinese nationals in Pakistan and said that “comprehensive security measures” are in place.

“The ministry of interior is looking after the matter, and if there is a requirement, the security will be beefed up further.”

Shedding light on possible terrorist attacks orchestrated by RAW and other elements along Pakistan’s eastern border, the DG ISPR said there is “nothing to worry about as the army has taken all measures” to keep the land safe.

Replying to another question, he said that while there was “always a fear of a civil war” taking place in Afghanistan, the situation is volatile and nothing can be said about it as of now. “However, right now, there is no civil war in Afghanistan,” he said.

He said that Pakistan is “hoping for the best” in terms of normalisation of the situation in Afghanistan but would not like to “speculate anything”.

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India’s investment in Afghanistan appears to be sinking: DG ISPR

Tanzeel Ahmed

July 11, 2021

RAWALPINDI: Director General of the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar has said that “Indin investment in Afghanistan appears to be sinking”.

“If India had invested in Afghanistan in good faith, then it would not have been disappointed today,” said the DG ISPR in a conversation with a private TV channel.

The head of the military’s media wing said that India’s goal was to harm Pakistan by stepping into Afghanistan.

He added that New Delhi was trying to tell the world that Pakistan is the “cause of problems in Afghanistan”.

Maj Gen Iftikhar said that there was no truth to the claims made by India, adding that “the world knows that Pakistan has tried its utmost to solve the Afghan problem in the best possible manner”.

The DG PISPR, who spoke at length about Afghanistan and Pakistan’s response to the situation there, also spoke of the role played by the US.

“The only expectation from the United States was that there would be a responsible withdrawal from Afghanistan,” said the DG ISPR. He explained that by a responsible withdrawal he meant a proper transfer of authority and lamented that the withdrawal by the US forces “was done a little early”.

The DG ISPR also responded to the rumours circulating in the media on American bases in Pakistan. The DG ISPR said that the Pakistani government had made it clear that there was no question of giving bases to the US as there is no need for it.

The head of the military’s media wing regretted the lack of work done by the Afghan government on border management with Pakistan.

“Border management should have been done on the other side as well, but unfortunately that has not been done,” said the DG ISPR. However, he assured the nation that Pakistan is determined to not allow anyone to use its soil against another country.

“We will not allow any unwanted people to enter the country,” he said.

Maj Gen Iftikhar said that border management was needed as everyone knows that Daesh and the TTP are in Afghanistan and have occasionally tried to harm interests.

He assured everyone that security at the country’s border with Afghanistan was much better today. He added that additional Frontier Corps wings have been formed to further enhance the security at the border.

The DG ISPR said that 90% of the fencing on the Pak-Afghan border was complete.

He also said that the interior ministry has made plans to deal with the influx of refugees in case violence escalates in Afghanistan.

Maj Gen Iftikhar stated that Pakistan sincerely spoke about advancing the Afghan peace process as troop withdrawal was announced by the then US president Donald Trump.

“Pakistan has no favourites in Afghanistan. “What kind of government they seek and how they want to take Afghanistan forward is up to the Afghans,” said the DG ISPR.

He also assured everyone that Pakistan will try to resolve the deadlock if the Afghans have reached that position.

“If Afghans are at a deadlock then we too are working to resolve it. But even we have our limitations and we can only advance things to an extent,” said the DG IPSR.

He added that international stakeholders know that Pakistan has made sincere attempts to resolve the Afghan conflict.

The major general said that Afghans have the ability to sit down and decide on the future they want for their country.

“The direction of things to happen will be determined by the internal situation in Afghanistan.

“Decisions such as these cannot be forced with the use of guns. If that was the case, then it would have happened in these 20 years that have passed,” said Maj Gen Iftikhar.

The DG ISPR warned that decisions will have to be made through talks or the situation may go towards a civil war. He added that no one would benefit from civil war and it would only harm the whole region.

“All factions in Afghanistan are tired of the 40-year violence,” he said.

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Security forces have eliminated terrorism from the country with nation’s help: DG ISPR

Sara Maqsood

February 22, 2021

RAWALPINDI: Major General Babar Iftikhar, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG-ISPR) on Monday has said that the operation Radd-ul-Fasaad was launched across the country to maintain peace.

While briefing the media persons about the achievements of armed forces as Radd-ul-Fassad operation completes four years, the ISPR chief said that Operation Khyber-4 was also started to recover the lands from the terrorist elements.

Babar Iftikhar has told that attack at the Chinese consulate in Karachi was foiled while the armed forces also confiscated over 72,000 illegal weapons from different parts of the country in this time period. Two soldiers of Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom while 119 sustained severe injuries during de-mining in tribal areas, he told.

DG ISPR said that in four years, 497 border terminals were constructed, 48,000 landmines were recovered and 344 terrorists were executed. 417 cases were filed in military courts, over 1200 extremists surrendered and 195 terrorists were granted different sentences, he went on to say.

Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar said that the law and order situation in Karachi has improved due to the Radd-ul-Fasaad operation. 84 percent work has been completed on Pak-Afghan border, he told.

Responding to a question, the DG ISPR said more work needs to be done to deal with the new security challenges and that the soldiers of armed forces are determined to achieve the target of National Action Plan.

Pakistan has played important role in Afghan peace process, he stated

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Will offer PDM ‘chai pani’ if they march towards GHQ: DG ISPR

Tanzeel Ahmed

January 11, 2021

RAWALPINDI: Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG-ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar on Monday has said that Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) doesn’t need to come to Rawalpindi and if they come, we will offer them refreshments (chai pani).

While addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, the DG ISPR told that in 2020, the coronavirus pandemic and locust attacks badly risked Pakistan’s food situation and economy. The state, institutions, armed forces and most importantly the Pakistani people unitedly faced these challenges, he added.

The DG said that Indian forces are continuously carrying out ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC), martyring several innocent civilians. Indian government doesn‘t want peace and stability in Pakistan, he stated.

Indian provocation has increased around Eastern border areas. However, Pakistan Army befittingly responds to the violations being carried out by the forces of neighboring country, he said.

While talking about the achievements of Pakistan armed forces under the umbrella of Radd-ul-Fasaad operation, Maj Gen Babar told that over 0.3 million raids were conducted to retain peace in the tribal areas.

The ratio of terror activities along the border areas was reduced by 55 per cent due to the efforts of security departments. Terrorism in Karachi has been decreased by 95 per cent while the cases of kidnapping for ransom have been declined by 98 per cent, he went on to say.

Responding to a question related to the killing of ten miners in Macch, the DG said that Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa will depart for Quetta to express solidarity with the bereaved families. Balochistan is the future of Pakistan, he stated.

Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar asserted that the brave soldiers are sacrificing their lives for the safety of motherland. We don’t need to answer those talking against the Pakistan Army, he added.

Meanwhile, DG ISPR said that Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) doesn’t need to come to Rawalpindi and if they come, we will offer them a tea.

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India in a weak position after August 5 move: DG ISPR

Tanzeel Ahmed

December 3, 2020

RAWALPINDI: Director General (DG) of Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar has said that since August 5, 2019 move, India is in a weak position in the world and has received a lot of negative press.

Iftikhar, in an interview said that the dossier, which was vindication of Pakistan’s stance, provided proof and evidence of Indian state in terrorism in Pakistan. The Dossier has been taken very seriously by the international community and now the world is talking about it despite Indian efforts, he added.

Answering about next steps of Pakistan, DG ISPR said that Foreign Office (FO) presented the dossier to P5 and UN Secretary General and now Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has released a very strongly worded statement about what is happening in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

He further said that Pakistan will take the dossier to every possible forum and a series of actions are being taken in this regard.

When asked about the nature of threat from anti-CPEC cell which reports directly to Indian PM Narendra Modi, DG ISPR said that Indians see CPEC as a game changer with which Pakistan is becoming a connectivity hub for the whole region.

CPEC is facing security threats and now India has started talking about starting and ending of CPEC route in a bid to make the project controversial. India wants to dampen the pace of the project as it has decided that after a point in time, it will become irreversible, he revealed.

Answering a question about taking the issue of Afghan soil use with the country’s government, he said that Pakistan keeps having these conversations with the country and has also shared the details of the dossier; however, it also acknowledges capacity issues of Afghan government and that is why Pakistan does not blame them.

However, he assured that with the kind of steps Pakistan has taken, India will not be able to harm the project in anyway.

Talking about LoC violations, Major General Babar Iftikhar said that India is trying to tag indigenous freedom struggle as terrorism and link it with Pakistan. Increase in intensity and lethality of the violations started from 2014 but 2019 and 2020 have seen maximum violations, he added.

Pakistan has taken diplomats and media to LoC and showed them that there is no way infiltration can take place from Pakistan as India has 900,000 military personnel in IIOJK while entire Pakistan Army consists of about 600,000 servicemen.

He also said that India is trying to divert attention of the world to Pakistan through LoC violations because it understands that whether they fire at us or we fire at them, it is Kashmiris that are being hurt and through this they are trying to drive a wedge between Pak Army and people living in the region.

Answering a question about western border, he said that Pakistan wants to ensure better management and for that purpose, it is fencing the border as it is very porous. He also revealed that by the end of this month Pakistan will have completely fenced its border with Afghanistan.

Emphasizing about the importance of border management for government and military, DG ISPR said that a Border Management Division has been raised to centrally articulate all points of entry whether it is from land or sea.

Talking about Afghan peace process, he said that Pakistan’s role is of a facilitator and everyone, including United States and Afghanistan, acknowledge it. Now, the Afghans have to decide about their future, he added.

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Linking IAF pilot Abhinandan’s release to anything else is misleading: DG ISPR

Our Correspondent

October 29, 2020

RAWALPINDI: Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Babar Iftikhar on Thursday said that linking the release of Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot Abhinandan Varthaman with any other situation is misleading.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the DG ISPR said that Pakistan while giving an opportunity for peace had decided to release Abhinandan Varthaman, who was captured when his IAF jet was shot down by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) after he violated the Pakistan airspace.

He said that such a statement is an attempt to make Pakistan’s victory controversial, adding that the enemy forces have imposed hybrid war on Pakistan in these circumstances.

Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar said that the negative statements have implications on national security.

He went on to say that Pakistan’s response was strong and no weakness was shown about Indian Wing Commander Abhinandhan’s release. General Iftikhar clarified that they released Abhinandhan as a peace gesture and in light of the Geneva Convention.

He said: “We downed two fighter jets of the enemy and captured Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman recalling Pakistan’s first dogfight with India after the 1971 war.”

He said Pakistan Army took action against Indian army in the broad day-light and he was only released as a gesture of peace.

Maj Gen Iftikhar said that Pakistan secured a “clear victory” that day against India. He said not only was India’s hollowed state of preparedness exposed that day but the entire Pakistani nation’s heads were held high.

He said this triumph was not only celebrated in Pakistan but the entire world recognised it. “India held its non-availability of Rafale jets accountable for the defeat,” he added.

The DG ISPR said Pakistan demonstrated well its resolve and capability in response to Indian aggression. He said India violated the international laws after the Pulwama attack, and India had to lick the dust due to Pakistan’s effective response. He said Pakistan shot down two Indian fighter jets and arrested Indian pilot Abhinandan.

He said Pakistan’s armed forces that were already on high alert and gave a befitting response to India after its abortive attempt to strike inside Pakistani territory on 26 February 2019, on a purported training camp near Balakot.

“The enemy aircraft that had entered Pakistan airspace to drop explosives escaped while dropping their payload on empty mountains in sheer panic after seeing our Shaheens,” Major General Babar Iftikhar said. He said the armed forces and the country’s leadership were united in their objective to teach India a lesson. He said Pakistan responded to India in broad daylight after announcing it.”

“I wish to set the history straight once more. Pakistan first demonstrated it capability and resolve. The decision was then made keeping all war options in mind and from a position of strength,” Maj Gen Iftikhar said. He stressed that the civil and military leadership were prepared to combat “any sort of situation” with full preparedness.

DG ISPR said that the recent statement has caused a great deal of anger in the armed forces’ rank and file. He said that both the leadership and rank and file of the armed forces are a single unit and will remain so.

The Major General also denied PML-N leader Muhammad Zubair’s statement that DG ISPR had told half-truths about his meeting with COAS General Bajwa, saying that as the spokesman for the Pakistan Army, he told the whole truth.

On February 27, in response to Indian Line of Control (LoC) violation, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had destroyed two Indian fighter jets and the wreckage of one aircraft fell in Central Kashmir’s Budgam while the other’s in Pakistan territory. Two of the Indian pilots had been killed in the incident.

Abhinandan’s MiG-21 jet was shot down over Kashmir on February 27, after a dogfight in the skies over the disputed Himalayan region which sent tensions between India and Pakistan to their highest levels in years and alarmed world powers, who issued calls for restraint.

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Pakistan Army won’t take internal security allowance due to situation caused by virus: ISPR DG

Our Correspondent

April 24, 2020

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Army on the instructions of Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Ganeral Qamar Javed Bajwa will not take internal security allowance keeping in view the situation caused after novel coronavirus.

This was stated by Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar on Friday, while addressing a press conference.

He said that Chief of Army Staff has directed to implement steps taken to contain coronavirus with the help of civil institutions.

He said a conference was held under the supervision of army chief to discuss the situation caused by the deadly virus. The COAS has instructed to carry on the training of Pakistan Army officers and use all the resources to fight the epidemic, he stated.

Director general of military media wing told that Pakistan Army has decided not to take Internal Security Allowance in the wake of worsening situation due to coroanvirus.

He also expressed his concerns that the spread of virus may speed up in coming 15 days. We have to take extreme care to prevent the outbreak of the pandemic, he appealed.

“A smart lockdown and testing, tracing and quarantining will drive our efforts against Covid-19. We will have a targeted lockdown only for virus hotspots and clusters,” he went on to say.

Major General Babar Iftikhar told that Indian forces have violated the ceasefire for 850 times so far with heavy weapons, targeting the civilians. Indian leadership, with the help of its media, had tried to malign Pakistan with false propaganda , he added.

ISPR DG said that India is promoting the ideology of Hindutva and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) by breaking the international laws.

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