Pak Army spokesperson categorically rejects 'regime change conspiracy' narrative
Pakistan
Pak Army spokesperson categorically rejects 'regime change conspiracy' narrative
LAHORE (Dunya News) - Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Babar Iftikhar on Tuesday categorically rejected ‘regime change conspiracy’ narrative.
Speaking on Dunya News program On The Front With Kamran Shahid, the DG ISPR made it clear that all three service chiefs were present in the National Security meetings. The participants were briefed by the agencies that there was no evidence of regime change conspiracy, he added.
Asked to explain how he defined an act of interference and an act of conspiracy, Gen Babar Iftikhar said they were diplomatic terms and diplomats could better explain them.
The Pak Army spokesman said that no one has the right to distort the facts. Pak army leadership has being subjected to propaganda, everyone has the right to express their opinion but opinions should not be supported with lies.
While commenting on the recent budget, the DG ISPR said that defense budget always comes under discussion but the armed forces are fulfilling all the responsibilities despite limited resources.
He went on to say that the armed forces have not increased their budget since 2020 and the COAS has also directed that the military exercises should be conducted on a smaller scale as an austerity measure.
The DG ISPR said that the armed forces took Rs100 billion less in the budget, adding that the forces have also reduced spending on utility bills.
“We have reduced unnecessary movement to save petrol and diesel,” he said, adding that the army has also started holding conferences online instead of arranging physical events that incur additional costs.
He also said that the armed forces returned Rs6 billion it had received during the coronavirus pandemic to the government.
Regarding the COAS visit to China, the DG ISPR said that the visit was important because General Qamar Javed Bajawa was the first COAS to meet President Xi Jinping, adding that Pakistan’s strategic relations with China are very important because China has always stood by Pakistan.
He also stated that the security of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects has remained unaffected, adding that the work related to the project’s security has been happening round the clock.
On the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) plan, the DG ISPR avoided commenting on it but maintained that "New Delhi had lobbied to get Pakistan blacklisted".
“This special cell formulated a complete action plan and all departments, ministries and agencies implemented it. The cell worked day and night to develop an effective strategy for money laundering and terror financing, which was implemented by all departments,” said Maj Gen Ifitkhar.
The DG ISPR said that because of the cell this legislation was done and Pakistan implemented FATF’s 26 points out of 27. He also added that the legislation helped Pakistan recover Rs58 billion.
