Army communicates with state, not with political parties: DG ISPR

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army’s spokesperson, Director General ISPR Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has again reaffirmed Pakistan Army’s unequivocal position regarding political neutrality, as he discussed human rights, civil-military interface, and cyber governance.

In a recent interview with the BBC, the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) director categorically denied that the Army had any backchannel communication or talks with former Prime Minister Imran Khan, or with anyone else, stating the Armed Forces have no interest or role in political matters.

We always made it very clear on this issue because it is the politicians’ responsibility to communicate with one another. Do not drag the Pakistan Army into politics, he asserted.

Army Communicates with State, Not Political Parties

Lt Gen Sharif reiterated that the Pakistan Army communicates with the state, not with any political party or a particular government. We communicate with the state. Whichever government is in power is the state constitutionally.

This is the assertion at the moment when Imran Khan, who is currently detained, has repeatedly declared that he is only ready to negotiate with the military command and not the current civilian administration.

He talked about flaws of the political forces themselves when asked why the military is often blamed for intruding into politics in times of national crises. He repeated that the position of the military is to be neutral and that political differences should stay within political ground.

Balochistan Dilemma

In the case of enforced disappearances in Balochistan, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif accused India’s intelligence agency, RAW, of propagating false propaganda and separatist feelings. “The people of Balochistan are with Pakistan. Those propagating these assumptions are part of Indian propaganda.”

He clarified that the government has established a commission to look into missing persons and that illegal detentions are not permitted by the army.”Keeping somebody in illegal custody is not acceptable. It is prohibited by the army.”

When it comes to the army’s interference in civilian affairs, he made it clear that the military only takes action on official requests from the federal or provincial governments.

On media control and snooping charges, the DG ISPR explained that freedom of speech is protected by the constitution, but with reasonable restrictions. “Freedom of expression is in the Constitution. But no individual has the right to criticize the state, judiciary, or religious beliefs.”