Islamabad: Director General ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has firmly stated that the Armed Forces of Pakistan are committed to countering any anti-state narrative or collusion. During a news conference in Rawalpindi, he emphasized the resolve of the Armed Forces to tackle such threats.
According to Radio Pakistan, Lieutenant General Chaudhry criticized the PTI founder for adopting an anti-state narrative rather than engaging in constructive politics. He expressed concerns that this narrative poses a significant national security threat. He reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ respect for constructive criticism and freedom of expression but stressed that no one should attempt to create divisions between the people and the Armed Forces of Pakistan.
Lieutenant General Chaudhry further stated that while all political parties are respected, the Armed Forces should remain apolitical. He highlighted the PTI founder’s narrative as being aligned with external actors, noting how it starts from the PTI founder’s official Twitter account and is subsequently picked up by Indian and Afghan media. He presented evidence, including a detailed chart, showing the propagation of these narratives.
The DG ISPR questioned the disproportionate attention given by Indian media to PTI’s narrative and expressed concern over the PTI founder’s focus on the Pakistan Army. He discussed the social media trends and misinformation surrounding the recent Chief of Defence Forces notification, stressing the importance of accurate information.
Regarding PTI’s criticism on Afghan policy and dialogues with certain groups, Lieutenant General Chaudhry asserted that the state’s security cannot be compromised. While the Armed Forces believe in dialogue, it does not extend to terrorist entities, including Fitna-al-Khawarij and Fitna-al-Hindustan.
He also described the operationalization of the Chief of Defence Forces Headquarters as a significant milestone for Pakistan’s national security, noting that such synergetic headquarters exist in around seventy countries worldwide.