ISLAMABAD:
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.
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