Pakistan Army welcomes talks between political parties

Pakistan Army has said that it respects all political parties and politicians and also welcomes the talks between political parties, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Addressing a news conference in Rawalpindi on Friday, Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt-General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said “We respect all political parties and politicians and we welcome talks among political leaders.”

Responding to a question regarding the ongoing talks between the government and the PTI, the ISPR DG said “Army’s link with the government is official and professional and politicizing it would not be appropriate. Commenting on the talks between the political parties is their job.”

Speaking on action taken against terrorism in Balochistan, the DG ISPR detailed that some high-value targets were eliminated in the region.
To another query about former ISI chief General Faiz Hameed’s court-martial, the ISPR DG said there was a strong system of self-accountability in the Pakistan Army and the officer who prefers politics to the State will have to answer his actions.

He said it was absolutely necessary to take the real May 9 planners to the task. “The thinking behind the narrative of a political party is political terrorism,” he opined.

At the start of his presser, Lt-General Chaudhry said Pakistan Army has thwarted numerous terror plots and killed 925 terrorists during thousands of operations conducted throughout the country in the year 2024 and the number of terrorists killed this year was the largest during the last five years.

Lt-General Chaudhry said a total of 59,775 operations against terrorists and Khawarij had been conducted in 2024 during which 383 Army officers and soldiers were also martyred. The ISPR DG said 27 Afghan terrorists were also sent to hell during these operations. Security forces had also neutralized 73 most-wanted terrorists during this period, he added.

He said a number terror networks were being operated from Afghanistan against Pakistan. Security forces have also nabbed two Afghan would-be suicide bombers identified as Insafullah alias Talha and Roohullah, he said and added 10 suicide bombing jackets, more than 250kg of explosives and weapons were recovered from the two Afghans.

Lt-General Sharif Chaudhry said “more than 179 operations” were being conducted on a daily basis by the Army, law enforcement and intelligence agencies, and the police.

The ISPR DG said these slain terrorists included included Fitna al Khawarij leader from Malakand Division Mian Syed alias Qureshi, Mohsin Qadir of Fitna al Khwarij, Attaullah alias Mehran who was involved in an attack on a diplomatic convoy in Swat, Fadaur Rehman alias Lal from Zhob Division, Ali Rehman and Abu Yahya.

The ISPR DG further said Baloch terrorists’ most-wanted leaders Sana alias Baro, Bashir alias Pir Jan, Niaz alias Gumman, Zareef Shah Jehan, Hazrat Ali alias Asad, Lak Jan Chakirabadi alias Sawara were also taken to the task.

Referring to statements made by alleged Baloch female terrorists Adeela Khuda Baksh and Mahil Abdul Hamid after their arrest, the ISPR DG said they both “revealed how terrorists brainwashed innocent people and were using the youth to rebel against the state”.

The ISPR DG said terrorist outfits were being provided safe havens, support, and are allowed unrestrained activities on Afghan territory. “All evidence related to terrorism can be traced back to the safe havens enjoyed by terrorists in Afghanistan. The army chief has a clear stance on this: that organisations banned in Pakistan are provided sanctuaries, support, and are allowed unrestrained activities on Afghan territory,” he maintained.

“To eliminate the terrorist networks and keep our citizens safe, Pakistan will leave no stone unturned. According to the Western Border Management Regime, the work that is underway is near completion,” he said and added “Everyone knows that Pakistan has wholeheartedly tried for peacekeeping in Afghanistan. Pakistan has played the most important role in the stability of Afghanistan.”

“Pakistan has, on a state level, pointed out to the Afghan interim government that Fitna al Khawarij and various other terrorists from Afghan soil have continued terrorist activities in Pakistan,” he recalled.

He added that the repatriation of illegal Afghan citizens from Pakistan was underway. “From September 2023 till now, 815,000 illegal Afghan citizens have gone returned [to their Afghanistan].”

The ISPR official stated that the armed forces had cleared “72 percent of the area in the tribal districts from minefields”. “Currently, mines and unexploded ordnances have been recovered,” he added.

He said on the instructions of the government, the Pakistan Army was playing its role in an underway crackdown against smuggling, drugs, electricity theft and hoarders. “Different nationwide operations were carried out under a holistic strategy, following which there has been a significant decrease in illegal activities,” he maintained.
“After the imposition of the One Document Regime, illegal border crossings have significantly declined. There has also been a marked difference in the use of passports, and smuggling has also decreased,” he added.

Reporter Ahmad Mansoor