Rawalpindi, 14 April 2022 (ISPR)

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) , Maj. Gen. Babar Iftikhar said on Thursday that the word "conspiracy" was not used in the statement issued after a meeting of the National Security Committee last month.

Addressing a press conference, on the stance and campaign 'Freedom Struggle' started by former Prime Minister Imran Khan that United States collaborated with the opposition parties to oust him from the chair. Imran Khan claimed that US consipiracy was admitted in National Security Council meeting when discussion held on the alleged cipher letter received from Pakistani envoy in Washington. NCC meeting was attended by Chief of Army Staff and Director General ISI.

On a question of extension in service of COAS, Gen. Iftikhar said that there was no realIty in any such news, he will be retiring on time on November 22.

The DG ISPR said "absolutely not" to possibility of a martial law being imposed. "So our external challenges are so much that if our army could tackle those alone it would be a success. It is not fair to blame an institution which is always working for Pakistan's security."

Replying to a question that Former PM Imran Khan claims that he has turned down US demand for military bases in Pakistan, "But the reality is that they never asked for bases," he revealed, reiterating that had they asked, the army would have had the same stance as the PM.

Meanwhile, commenting on the former premier's visit to Russia. Gen Iftikhar confirmed that the army was onboard on it and was taken into confidence. "There was institutional input that he should go. It was in no one's wildest dreams that they [Russia] would announce war when the prime minister was there, which was obviously very embarrassing."

The DG ISPR, while answering a question on Imran Khan's comments about Pakistan's nuclear assets being unsafe under the Sharifs' leadership, cautioned everyone to be careful when talking on the subject.

"They (the nuclear assets) aren't associated to any one political leadership," he said, adding Pakistan had one of the best systems and there was no such threat to them.

Talking about the current political situation in the country, Gen Iftikhar said that the army couldn't afford to decide which government to have smooth relations with and which to not. "This is not a choice, governments are elected, it is their job to tell us what to do."

He also clarified that the COAS didn't attend Shehbaz Sharif's oath-taking ceremony because he was ill.

The DG ISPR said that rallies were a part of democracy. "Army has provided an enabling environment to the people by risking its lives. This free atmosphere where anyone says what they want ... good or bad ... we have worked hard and sacrificed a lot for this.

"People come out on roads and express thoughts. There is nothing wrong with it," he said, assuring that some stability was returning to the country but it would take time to keep it sustainable.

"Political stability drives everything. National security rests on it."

Smear campaign

Raising concerns on the "malicious propaganda" being run against the army on social media, the DG ISPR said that in the digital domain, everything was being amplified through external linkages and fake technology.

"When we talk about propaganda, it can't create issues as much as it amplifies them. Whatever political thoughts people have, they pitch them against each other which spreads negativity and thus are externally blown up," he said, adding that consequently a notion is created that Pakistan's youth wasn't as well-informed.

Gen Iftikhar stressed the need to take strong measures to insulate the society from the effects of fake news. "Whose job is it to ask? Army is the head of institution that is subservient to government. If army head is being criticised, then it's the government's job [to take action]."

He added that there had been a surge in fake news given tech advancements. "There should be laws for this. I think all stakeholders should sit and try to correct this otherwise there's no limit," the DG ISPR added.

Moving onto other security challenges, Gen Iftikhar said that the "new war" announced by the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) was "stopped in tracks" and said there was no such things as "talks" with the banned group.

Meanwhile, talking about the foreign policy, he praised former national security advisor Moeed Yusuf for his work.

He also recalled that the army chief was criticised for indulging into the foreign policy domain when he gave a statement on the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

"All things he said weren't against Pakistan's stated foreign policy. He was not getting out of that paradigm. When talks are held on strategic level, political leadership talks on its behalf and military leadership too, some times to balance things out," the DG ISPR added.