DG ISPR clears air on 'army support' remarks by PM
Large part of war on terror has been waged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), said DG.
RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) – While clearing the statement of Prime Minister (PM) regarding army support, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Asif Ghafoor said that Imran Khan is autonomous in decision making while establishment merely gives input.
Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, the DG said that Pakistan Army does not belong to any party of province.
Indian response to Kartarpur opening
ISPR DG said that Pakistan has taken several positive initiatives for peace with India, and the latest one is groundbreaking of Kartarpur corridor.
"India is responding negatively to Kartarpur Border opening that will be one entry point into Pakistan for Indian Sikhs. I hope that India will positively respond to this goodwill gesture," he told. Asif Ghafoor informed that the corridor will be constructed in six months and four thousand Sikh pilgrims will be able to visit the Kartarpur daily.
He expressed concern over increasing ceasefire violations on the Line of Control and Working Boundary by the Indian forces.
Indian Army is targeting urban populace with accelerated ceasefire violations, he revealed.
ISPR DG maintained that 55 civilians have so far been martyred in the ceasefire violations by the Indian forces this year, which is the highest number in the history.
Security situation in Pakistan
Talking about peace in the country, the ISPR DG said that terrorism incidents have minimized in the country and that the law and order situation in Karachi has also improved. Large part of war on terror has been waged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), he added.
ISPR DG said that seven to eight terrorist incidents would take place every month in 2013, which has considerably decreased.
He said civilian casualties have also decreased to a great extent. He expressed confidence that there will be complete peace in the country as a result of the ongoing stability operations.
DG ISPR said incidents of terrorism and other crimes like abduction and extortion have greatly decreased in erstwhile FATA, Balochistan, and Karachi.
The army official said that Balochistan insurgents are surrendering to include in mainstream. Internal weaknesses have been exploited against Pakistan by enemies, he went on to say.
He urged the disgruntled elements in Balochistan to relinquish their violent path and join the national mainstream.
Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad
He told that 44 major operations have been carried out under Radd-ul-Fasaad while 32000 weapons have also been seized during these actions.
Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad is near to complete two years, he continued.
