Military clarifies Azm-e-Istehkam is not a military operation but a counter-terrorism campaign

The military on Monday clarified that operation Azm-e-Istehkam is not a military operation but a counter-terrorism campaign, saying a strong lobby does not want the

Pakistan's military on Monday clarified that operation Azm-e-Istehkam is not a military operation but a counter-terrorism campaign, adding that a strong lobby does not want the National Action Plan (NAP) to succeed.

“Comparing Azm-e-Istehkam to past operations like Zarb-e-Azb and Rah-e-Nijat is not appropriate,” DG ISPR Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry told a news conference in Rawalpindi.

"Our problem is that serious issues in the country are also politicised. Azm-e-Istahkam is an example of this," he added. "The government has also said that Operation Azm-e-Istehkam is a coordinated counter-terrorism campaign, not a military operation," General Sharif said responding to a question about the proposed operation.

The chief military spokesperson insisted that a narrative is being created to make Operation Azm-e-Istehkam controversial.

During a press conference on Monday, a journalist asked General Sharif about comparisons being made between past operations 'Rah-e-Nijat' and 'Zarb-e-Azb' and Azm-e-Istahkam, and concerns raised in political circles about the possible displacement of local people.

The DG ISPR said the June 22 statement by the Apex Committee of National Action Plan clearly stated that the civil and military leaders reviewed the progress on counter terrorism efforts and agreed that there was a need for a comprehensive counter-terrorism campaign in the country.

Referring to the same statement, he said that political parties would be consulted and legislation would be enacted for the counter-terrorism campaign in the country.

However, he said that a narrative has been created that the operation will displace people and should be opposed.

"This is a matter of our survival, and we turn even serious matters into a joke due to politics,” he lamented

Citing the example of smuggling, he said that an important goal of Operation Azm-e-Istehkam is to break the nexus between terrorism and crime. He mentioned that terrorists are operating in the country through benami properties, smuggling, and non-custom paid vehicles.

He asked, "Why is Azm-e-Istehkam being made controversial? A strong lobby wants the objectives of the National Action Plan and Azm-e-Istahkam not to be achieved."

"Why has a big mafia, a political mafia, an illegal mafia stood up from everywhere that we will not let this happen? They want to make it controversial based on lies."

The military spokesperson presented slides detailing the objectives of the National Action Plan, the actions taken so far, and other information, stating, "We are conducting four to five intelligence-based counter-terrorism operations every hour."

‘Digital terrorism’

The DG ISPR said that extremists involved in attacks on law enforcement agencies and 'digital terrorists' share the common goal of targeting the military and its leadership.

When a journalist asked the DG ISPR how the institution is dealing with criticism against the army chief, the institution, and the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).

General Sharif said that 'digital terrorism' is active on social media against the military and its leadership.

He stated, "Just as a terrorist tries to impose his will through weapons, similarly, a digital terrorist tries to impose his will by spreading anxiety through mobile phones, computers, lies, fake news, and propaganda."

The spokesperson for the Pakistani military said that there is very little information available about any 'digital terrorist,' but both extremists and digital terrorists share the common goal of targeting the military.

"Digital terrorists are attacking the military, its leadership, and the relationship between the military and the public based on fake news."

He stated that only laws and punishments can stop digital terrorists. "Continuously, obscene talk and fake news are spread against the military and other institutions' leadership."

He warned that if digital terrorists are not stopped, they will get more space. "We cannot allow those illegal elements who want to make this country a soft state."

Army's stance on TLP sit-in

Earlier, a journalist asked whether the recent sit-in by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) at Faizabad has any connection with the Pakistani military or the establishment.

The military spokesperson responded that the central issue is Palestine, and the government and military's clear stance is that this is genocide and unacceptable.

Beliau berkata, "Kerajaan dan institusi cuba menyelesaikan isu ini dengan sensitiviti, tanpa keganasan, melalui dialog."

Namun, beliau menambah bahawa "propaganda bermula bahawa institusi itu sendiri yang mengaturnya. Jika esok Jamaat-e-Islami duduk atau sebarang protes lain berlaku, adakah ia juga akan mendakwa bahawa tentera yang menganjurkannya?

"Tiada akauntabiliti untuk berita palsu di negara ini. Fakta ada di hadapan anda bahawa ini adalah isu sensitif. Jika anda menyelesaikannya secara baik, spekulasi lanjut

The above is the detailed content of Military clarifies Azm-e-Istehkam is not a military operation but a counter-terrorism campaign. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!