(Web Desk Monitoring) — Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), criticized the “political mafia” on Monday for attempting to politicize Operation Azm-e-Istehkam.
“Azm-e-Istehkam is a comprehensive and integrated counter-terrorism campaign, not merely a military operation as it is being portrayed,” stated DG ISPR during a press conference in Rawalpindi.
He questioned, “Why did a political and illegal mafia rise up against Azm-e-Istehkam and start claiming they would prevent it from happening?”
Providing a report on counterterrorism operations this year, he mentioned that 22,409 operations had been carried out against terrorists and their supporters, with more than 112 operations conducted daily by the military and law enforcement authorities to combat terrorism.
DG Sharif emphasized that the operation was not intended to force people to relocate, but rather to “reinvigorate the already in-place National Action Plan.” He clarified that a false narrative had been created to suggest otherwise.
He added that the ongoing kinetic efforts would be “augmented” by law enforcement agencies empowered through effective legislation, as outlined in the original announcement of the operation.
Referring to the original announcement, DG ISPR questioned where it indicated any previous military operations.
“Our problem is that we turn every significant issue into a joke because of our politics,” he reiterated.
He concluded by saying that if Operation Azm-e-Istehkam was properly implemented, it would not only eliminate terrorism but also lead to societal and national uplift.
