Pakistan Army on Sunday announced to have launched a major anti-terrorist operation in tribal areas of Rajgal and Shawwal to flush out Daesh militants attempting to take hold in the Khyber Agency.
Replying to a question, DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor said there is no organized infrastructure of Daesh in Pakistan and we shall not allow them to take foothold here. He, however, added that Daesh is gaining strength in Afghanistan, while some splinters groups of Taiban and other militant groups are using its name here.
The DG ISPR said a follow-up operation, Khyber-4, has been launched in tribal areas. A division-plus size force will take part in the operation, he informed, hoping they plan to unilaterally secure the international border, eliminate hideouts, and complete physical hold on Khyber Agency.
The army spokesperson also gave a country-wide breakdown of the operations taken as part of Operation Raddul Fasaad.
JIT report
The military spokesperson was repeatedly asked to comment on the rumours that some elements of military establishment are trying to derail the government. He categorically stated that this question does not even merit an answer.
He went on to say that the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was constituted by the Supreme Court and the representatives of military institutions i.e. Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI) worked honestly under the apex court’s orders. The JIT has no direct link with the army, he said.
The military spokesman avoided commenting on political situation in the country amid Panama controversy, which has otherwise shaken the ruling party to its core. The army wants rule of law and constitution in the country, he responded to a question.
It is a sub-judice matter and the SC will make its decision in the case, he said adding that it is the duty of every Pakistani to ensure the supremacy of the law and Constitution.
Raymond Davis
When asked to comment on the revelations made in Raymond Davis book, the DG ISPR said not only ISI there were many state institutions dealing with the matter. Time will tell what were the objectives behind the book, he added.
LoC violations
Talking about the situation on the Line of Control, he said so far 580 ceasefire violations have occurred to-date this year — the highest in any year. "This indicates the Indian aim of diverting attention from political upheaval in Indian Occupied Kashmir," he claimed.
The ISPR DG lamented that the Indian army has the choice of opening fire on civilian areas whereas the Pakistan Army cannot do that to Kashmiris across the LoC.
Kulbhushan Jadhav
Replying to a question on RAW agent Kulbhushan Jadhav, the DG ISPR said the army chief is reviewing his mercy petition and all the relevant evidences were with the COAS who will make a decision on merit.
