‘No deal with Nawaz, keep us out of it’: DG ISPR tells media

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director-General (DG) Major Gen Babar Iftikhar termed the rumours of a deal with former Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif as “baseless” and urged the media to “keep the establishment out of it.”

At a press conference in Rawalpindi, DG ISPR dismissed any deal with Sharif, saying, “If someone does talk of a deal, then you must ask them who is offering a deal.”

“Who is striking a deal with Nawaz Sharif?” he posed a question while adding that there is no trouble between the civilian government and military.

Security situation at the Western border

During an ISPR briefing to the media, DG ISPR also addressed the Pakistan-Afghanistan border i.e. Durand Line issue. According to him, border fencing which is 94 per cent completed, was being done in an effort to protect the people on both sides [Pak and Afghan] as well as to regulate trade. 

He revealed that the security situation along the Western border was “challenging” during 2021. He said: “People can cross the border from designated points. This process will be eased in the coming months. The blood of our martyrs was spilled in fencing of the border. It is a fence of peace. It will be completed and remain.”

No ceasefire with TTP currently, operations to continue

The DG ISPR said that talks with the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan  (TTP) are “on hold” but the operations [against them] are “ongoing”.

“The TTP is not a monolith. They have internal differences. There were some problems, some conditions that were non-negotiable from our [Pakistan] side so there is no ceasefire right now. We are continuing with operations and will continue till we get rid of this menace,” he added.

The worst siege in human history: DG ISPR on Kashmir

He recalled Indian forces’ cruelty in occupied Kashmir a “propaganda” campaign by their media and said that this is the “worst siege” in human history.

The DG ISPR accused India of endangering regional security by purchasing arms, adding that it would lead to a race in the region and have a negative impact on peace.

He also added that India faked an encounter in Neelum Valley and killed an innocent Kashmiri and then blamed Pakistan for it.