On Friday, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), firmly stated that the Pakistan Army has no interest in engaging in discussions with political parties, emphasizing that the military should remain separate from political affairs.
Speaking with BBC Urdu, the DG ISPR clarified that the armed forces interact exclusively with the state, which is constituted under the Constitution of Pakistan and formed through cooperation with political parties.
“We engage with the state of Pakistan—the state established under the Constitution with political parties,” he explained. “Whatever government is in power at any given time, that represents the state. And the Pakistan Army operates under that state.”
He reiterated that the Pakistan Armed Forces fulfill their duties strictly within the constitutional framework and serve the state, irrespective of which political party is in power. He appealed to all stakeholders to avoid involving the military in political matters, reaffirming the institution’s apolitical position.
Furthermore, DG ISPR Chaudhry noted that numerous rumors and assumptions are deliberately circulated against the armed forces for political reasons. He mentioned one such rumor suggesting the army neglects its duties and participates in politics.
“When Ma’rakah-e-Haq (the war against terrorism) came, did the army perform its duties or not?” he asked, asserting that the armed forces remain fully committed to their professional responsibilities.
“Our commitment lies with the people, regional integrity, sovereignty, and the protection of Pakistanis. This is the work the army does,” he affirmed.
He questioned whether the nation had ever felt the army’s absence in fulfilling its role. “No, absolutely not,” he responded definitively.
Lt Gen Chaudhry reiterated the armed forces’ consistent stance that it is the responsibility of politicians to engage in dialogue among themselves. “The Pakistan Armed Forces must not be dragged into politics,” he stressed.
He also questioned why the military leadership’s name surfaces during periods of political instability. “This is a question that should be asked of the politicians,” he remarked.
“This question should be directed at those political figures or parties that attempt to make the army controversial,” the DG ISPR stated. “Perhaps it is their own incompetence or weaknesses that they do not want to confront.”
Lt Gen Chaudhry further assured that the Pakistan Army remains dedicated to supporting the government and the public whenever called upon.
“When polio teams are deployed, the army accompanies them. When WAPDA officials need to inspect electricity meters, they seek military support,” he noted, providing examples of the military’s public service.
“During my own service, I have even helped clean canals in this country. We are the people’s army. Whenever the government asks, we respond to the best of our ability.”
Responding to a query about the army’s deployment in various provinces, he clarified that the military performs duties in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan under the explicit instructions of the provincial governments.
“We do not make these decisions ourselves; it is the political leadership that decides where the military should be deployed.”
Indian Disinformation Campaign
Addressing propaganda spread against the military, the DG ISPR dismissed the notion that the people of Balochistan are not aligned with the Pakistan Army as Indian propaganda.
He asserted: “Those sitting with strategic misconceptions must clear their minds.”
He elaborated, “Such narratives are being spread by people working on Indian payroll, promoting misguided ideas. India’s intelligence agency, RAW, has created thousands of fake social media accounts operating from Europe,” adding that these accounts aim to falsely depict anti-Pakistan sentiment in Balochistan.
Missing Persons Issue
In response to a question concerning the missing persons issue, the DG ISPR stated: “We must first differentiate between narratives—truth versus propaganda. Is the issue of missing persons unique to Pakistan? No, it is not.”
“There are hundreds of thousands of missing persons in India. The UK and the United States also have missing persons. Pakistan now has a dedicated commission on missing persons,” he noted.
He added that the government is diligently working to trace every single missing person.
