ISPR presser

The power players in Pakistan’s politics are clear as day. And one of them has spoken. While the ISPR director-general’s press conference yesterday was, on the surface, a briefing on national security and foreign relations, it unmistakably veered into the realm of politics, with pointed remarks regarding the PTI and Imran Khan. Held without any immediate trigger, the presser ostensibly covered a range of issues – from the return of terrorism to cross-border relations with Afghanistan – but carried an undercurrent of rebuke for the PTI’s narrative and conduct. In response to queries about alleged backdoor talks with the PTI, ISPR DG Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry emphatically stated that no political leader’s ambition supersedes the welfare of Pakistan. The message as it were will have been received by those it was intended for.

The events of May 9, 2023 continue to haunt the political and institutional landscape. The ISPR has asserted that youth were manipulated through toxic propaganda. Observers have for months been pointing out the PTI social media’s role in the violence and subsequent fallout. Particularly contentious is the PTI’s insistence on framing the events as a ‘false flag operation’. This narrative, as the military spokesperson noted, is incendiary and undermines the possibility of any rapprochement. The PTI has been repeatedly advised by political analysts and even within its own ranks to backtrack from its false flag claims if it wishes to engage meaningfully in dialogue. Instead, the party’s continued adherence to this stance has only fanned the flames, making the May 9 incident a flashpoint in civil-military relations. Meanwhile, there is the matter of military trials of civilians – criticised by legal experts and defended by both the government as well as the ISPR. This dichotomy – between institutional necessity and legal propriety – adds another layer of complexity to an already fraught situation. The military’s frustration with the PTI’s narrative extends to the November 26, 2023 events in Islamabad and on Friday the military spokesperson emphasised that security personnel were unarmed and the blame for ‘false propaganda’ lies with the PTI. While that may clarify one end, there are unanswered questions about verified deaths and the government must address these concerns transparently; sweeping them under the rug will only deepen public mistrust.

While politics seemed to be the main menu, the military presser also served as a policy declaration regarding Afghanistan. The ISPR DG underscored Pakistan’s commitment to dismantling terrorist networks originating from Afghan soil. As we have written earlier as well, this is a tough situation: Pakistan has been asking Afghanistan to stop supporting the TTP and has made no headway with this. However, Pakistan’s resolve to counter cross-border terrorism, while necessary, risks triggering retaliatory measures that could spiral into broader conflict and one hopes diplomatic channels remain open to prevent an already volatile region from descending into chaos. Overall, the timing and tone of the press conference raise serious questions about its impact on the ongoing negotiations between PTI and the government. Do they have institutional buy-in? And does the PTI even realise just how damaging it has been to itself? For Pakistan to navigate its myriad challenges – from terrorism to economic instability – all stakeholders must prioritise constructive engagement over adversarial posturing.