Pakistan to always surprise India: DG ISPR

RAWALPINDI: Major General Asif Ghafoor, the outgoing Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), at his farewell talk to the media on Thursday advised the Indian government and military leadership to talk sense and refrain from giving irresponsible statements.

“The civil and military leadership of Pakistan desire peace in the region without compromising on country’s sovereignty, while the Indian leaders should also be aware of importance of peace in the region,” Major General Asif Ghafoor said.

Major General Asif Ghafoor said it would be an honour for him if the Indians were happy over his transfer. "Indian leadership says it will destroy Pakistan in 7-10 days," he said. "I want to tell them that Pakistan Army will always continue to give you (Indians) surprises," he added.

Major General Asif Ghafoor, who served as DG ISPR for over three years, was transferred as General Officer Commanding 40 Infantry Division, Okara, about two weeks back. His successor Major General Babar Iftikhar would take over as DG ISPR on February 01 (Saturday).

“How a (Indian) military which could not suppress freedom movement of 80 million Kashmiris, can finish Pakistan of 210 million people in seven to 10 days,” the DG ISPR said, reiterating that the Pakistani nation and armed forces would continue to surprise Indians.

Major General Asif Ghafoor said that Pakistan and India had reached at the verge of war in February last year but it was super military strategy adopted by Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa which saved South Asia from a big disaster.

“Preparedness of Pakistan’s armed forces and their professional ability and effective response also paved the way for peace,” he said, recalling that he had already maintained that war started by India would be finished by Pakistan.

Major General Asif Ghafoor said the Indian leadership should immediatelyput an end to brutalities in the occupied Kashmir otherwise unrest there would be disastrous for the whole region. “The international community should also be aware of this threat,” he said.

The military spokesman pointed out that the army chief always gave priority to progress and sovereignty of Pakistan and his military diplomacy raised the image of the country in the community of the world enhancing its role for peace not only in the region but also in the world. He pointed out that Pakistan has now moved from negative relevance of 20 years back to positive relevance, saying that the same positive progress should continue. “We will have to face all difficulties together as no worldly power can defeat a united nation,” he said.

Major General Ghafoor also maintained that Pakistan’s armed forces fight with spirit of faith and upport of masses. He said that it was a strategy led by General Qamar Javed Bajwa which helped in consolidating successes achieved starting from operation Sherdil to Zarb-e-Azb through operation Raddul Fasad, which was the most difficult phase for having long-lasting peace.

“The famous Bajwa Doctrine is achieving peace in the country and region without compromising on the country’s sovereignty,” he said.

Major General Asif Ghafoor further said that General Qamar Javed Bajwa not only took difficult measures for peace, but also played an important role in ‘Madrassa reforms’ and religious harmony while under his leadership Pak-Afghan and Pak-Iran borders were also made safe.

He also lauded the role of defence correspondents and their support in successes of the armed forces.

“Defence reporters raised the morale of armed forces through their responsible reporting,” he said. The DG ISPR said what he speaks has never been his personal opinion. “I issued all my statements as military spokesman,” he said.