RAWALPINDI – Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif said on Monday reiterated that Azm-e-Istehkam is not a military operating, saying illegal political mafia is trying to sabotage the implementation of the National Action Plan for it vested interests.
Addressing a press conference, the military spokesperson said the presser aimed at clarifying the army’s stance on some important topics, adding that a significant surge was witnessed in organised propaganda, false news against military in recent times.
Sharing update on the counter-terrorism operations conducted in 2024 so far, DG ISPR said 22,409 intelligence-based operations were conducted against terrorists and their facilitators.
Responding to a question, he said Azm-e-Istehkam is a comprehensive counter-terrorism campaign, which will be conducted through national consensus. He clarified it not a military operation per se as it is being propagated by a section of society.
He said matters of significance, including Azm-e-Istehkam, is being politicized. He said a perception is being spread that the operation would led to displacement but in fact it aims at reinvigorating the already in-place National Action Plan.
The DG ISPR said that a “very strong lobby” was hindering the National Action Plan because the stakes in sabotaging the operation are very high.
He said military operations continue efficiently across the country but there was problem in other points of the National Action Plan. The DG ISPR pointed out that it was decided in 2014 and 2021 that Counter-Terrorism Departments would be setup at the provincial levels and they would be responsible for conducting operations against terrorists.
He said that all political parties had also endorsed the decision of curbing the “illegal spectrum” in the country. He said the elimination of the illegal spectrum would yield overl benefits for the society.
He called the spread of false information or propaganda on social media “digital terrorism,” saying the government should take action against it..
Pakistan saw uptick in terror attacks, with fatalities rising as TTP and other militants in Afghanistan continue to attack Pakistan from Afghanistan soil. Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan was identified as the most active terrorist group in Afghanistan, responsible for the majority of terrorism-related deaths there.
More details to follow…
