On Monday, Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry addressed the media in Rawalpindi to clarify misconceptions and address concerns regarding the Azm-e-Istehkam campaign and other national security matters. He emphasized that certain political factions have trivialized serious national issues, using Azm-e-Istehkam as an example.
Lieutenant General Chaudhry began by explaining that Azm-e-Istehkam is a comprehensive and integrated counter-terrorism campaign, not merely a military operation as it has been portrayed. “Azm-e-Istehkam is a comprehensive effort against terrorism and was needlessly politicized,” he stated. The DG ISPR stressed that the campaign aims to eliminate terrorism through coordinated efforts and not through military might alone.
He also highlighted the significant stakes involved in the campaign, noting that a certain lobby is actively working against the revised National Action Plan (NAP) to ensure its failure. “The stakes are very high,” he said, emphasizing that these elements are politicizing the campaign to hinder its objectives.
Addressing public concerns, the DG ISPR reassured that no-go areas no longer exist across the country and that there would be no further displacements due to Azm-e-Istehkam. He cited a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office released on June 24 to clarify that Azm-e-Istehkam is not a military operation. “Why is Azm-e-Istehkam being made controversial? There’s a strong lobby which wants the objectives of Azm-e-Istehkam not to be fulfilled. It is being politicized,” he reiterated.
The DG ISPR provided an update on the counter-terrorism operations conducted by the army. In the ongoing year, over 22,000 intelligence-based operations have been carried out to eliminate terrorism in Pakistan. “A total of 398 terrorists have been killed while 137 officials were martyred,” he reported. He added that more than 112 operations are conducted daily in 2024, showcasing the army’s relentless efforts to maintain national security.
Lieutenant General Chaudhry also addressed the recent violence during a peace rally in Bannu and the alleged firing by security forces. He referenced last week’s terrorist attack on Bannu Cantonment, which resulted in the martyrdom of eight military personnel. In response to the attack, locals had demanded to carry out a peace march the following day.
“It was agreed that there would be no anti-state slogans,” he said. However, the rally took a violent turn when specific negative elements joined in. “The rally marched through the point of the terrorist attack and chanted slogans against the army and the state and pelted stones,” he explained, adding that some armed individuals within the march opened fire, leading to injuries.
The DG ISPR clarified that the army’s response during the incident was in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOP). He detailed that a temporary wall was torn down, and a supply depot was looted during the violence. “This is how it happened. The army’s response was as per SOP and as per orders,” he asserted.
Referring to the May 9 incident involving a chaotic crowd, he explained that the army has clear protocols for handling such situations. If a military installation is under threat, the protocol involves issuing a clear warning, followed by aerial firing, and finally, appropriate action if the threat persists. “Security forces conducted aerial firing as per the above code,” he confirmed.
The DG ISPR’s remarks come amid increasing political tensions and accusations of politicizing national security issues. He condemned the actions of the political mafia that have made serious matters of national interest a joke. “The army’s system is very clear,” he said, emphasizing the importance of following established procedures to maintain order and security.
