‘Massive political mafia’ undermining operation: ISPR

Chief of ISPR says the National Action Plan’s goals were opposed by a “strong lobby” because the stakes in [sabotaging the] operation were very high; the opposition was not based on any ideology but involves a lot of money

Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif, the director general of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), has said a “massive, illegal political mafia” is attempting to undermine the Azm-e-Istehkam operation in order to forward its own agenda.

He stated that the aim of his press conference was to “clarify the army’s stance on some important topics” as there has recently been an “increase in organised propaganda, (and) false, wrong and concocted news” against the armed forces. “That is the reason we (should) have these conversations.”

Turning to the counterterrorism operations conducted so far this year, he stated that 22,409 operations based on tip-offs had been carried out against terrorists and their supporters. In other words, the military and law enforcement personnel carried out more than 122 operations per day in an effort to eliminate terrorism.

In response to a question, Lt Gen Sharif clarified that Azm-i-Istehkam (Resolve for Stability)— the government’s new planned operation — was a “comprehensive counterterrorism campaign” formulated through national consensus and “not a military operation per se as it is being (wrongly) presented”.

“Our issue is that we are sacrificing even very important issues on the altar of politics, and Azm-i-Istehkam is an example of this,” he remarked. The operation’s sole goal was to “reinvigorate the already in-place National Action Plan”, stating that a narrative had been created suggesting that it was started with the intention of displacing people.

According to the original announcement of the operation, he indicated that law enforcement authorities empowered by effective legislation were to “augment” the kinetic operations currently underway. He repeated, “Our problem is that, because of our politics, we turn every significant issue into a joke.”

The National Action Plan’s goals were opposed by a “very strong lobby” because the stakes in [sabotaging the] operation are very high and it’s not based on any ideology but involves a lot of money, alleged the ISPR chief.

The operation was targeted by a large, illegal political mafia, whose first step was to create controversy by using spurious and fraudulent reasons. He stated that kinetic activities were “under way in a splendid manner”, with “four to five operations under way every hour”, pointing to the National Action Plan’s 14 points.

According to Lt Gen Sharif decisions were made in 2014 and 2021 to create Counter-Terrorism Departments at the provincial level, which would be in charge of organising counterterrorism efforts. The National Action Plan also mentioned the regularisation and registration of religious seminaries, but just over 16,000 were; it is unclear how the remaining 50 per cent are doing. “Does the army have to do this as well?”

Similarly, all political parties vowed to terminate the “illegal spectrum (that) is felt and seen everywhere in daily life and hides a major illegal economy through which the criminal system and terrorism (work) operate,” he explained. He claimed that the National Action Plan was the answer to the unlawful spectrum requirement, which he described as a “soft state”.

Doing away with the illegal spectrum would benefit the society as a whole rather than just reducing terrorism. “There is a powerful group that profits greatly from this and they do not want this to end”. If Operation Azm-i-Istehkam is carried out properly, it would eradicate terrorism and promote social and national advancement.

When the ISPR’s director general was asked about the violence that occurred over the weekend at a peace demonstration in Bannu and the purported shooting by security forces, he brought up the terrorist attack that killed eight military members last week at Bannu Cantonment.

He claimed that the residents had insisted on holding a peace march the following day and that it had been decided not to carry any signs critical of the government. "However, some particular negative elements joined with the peace march once it started," he said.

He said that when the protesters passed by the scene of the terrorist attack some participants began “chanting slogans against the army and the state and pelted stones”. He also claimed that some marchers carrying weapons “opened fire because of which there were injuries”

According to Lt Gen Sharif military personnel responded in accordance with the directives and standard operating procedures. A certain political organisation and an unruly mob started spreading propaganda after the May 9 event, asking why the army hadn’t intervened to stop them.

The army’s structure is “very clear” and if there is a military scenario, then there “are very clear [directions] and the officers conducted themselves according to it”.

He was of the view that problems had surfaced because of what he called “the judiciary’s failure to effectively deal with the people behind May 9 incidents. “Why this occurred is the problem. This occurred as a result of your legal and judicial system’s failure to prosecute the May 9 culprits and organisers, which (weakness) will only fuel conflict, mob mentality, and fascism in the nation”.

He reminded all those present that law enforcement and riot control fall under the purview of the provincial governments rather than the armed forces. “Miscreants join a crowd and open fire and kill people, so this responsibility is of the provincial government and administration….”

Turning to the “leaked tape” of Mufti Noor Wali Mehsud, the leader of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan group, Lt Gen Sharif questioned the militant leaders’ interpretation of Islam, questioning why he was talking about blowing up homes, schools, colleges, and hospitals. Such acts “only strengthen our resolve that Azm-i-Istehkam is highly necessary,” he added, adding, “This will be taken to its logical conclusion.”