Troops manning Afghan border: Illegal crossing points sealed, says DG ISPR

RAWALPINDI: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar on Saturday said Pakistan Army’s regular troops are manning crossings along the Pak-Afghan border and all illegal crossing points have been sealed along the border.

The DG ISPR was presenting his views during a special transmission on a private TV channel. Major General Babar Iftikhar said the recent terrorist incident has links with the current Afghanistan situation that highlighted the desperation of terrorists. He said the border fencing along Pak-Afghan border is 90 percent complete, and it has been expedited along Iran border. He said many forts and security posts have been constructed, and proper border management mechanisms has been placed.

The DG ISPR said the border fencing was also beneficial for Afghanistan’s security. He added that since May 01, 2021, some 167 terrorist incidents took place, whereas the security forces conducted over 7,000 intelligence-based operations (IBOs), cordon and search operations and area domination operations in the aftermath.

The DG ISPR clarified that Pakistan was not a guarantor to Afghanistan peace process as Afghanistan’s own stakeholders have to decide their future.

“Peace in Pakistan is linked with peace in Afghanistan,” he said, adding, “We are meticulously monitoring the regional situation and playing a sincere role in Afghan peace process. We left no stone unturned in peace talks among all stakeholders of the peace process.”

The military spokesman underlined that the security forces have prepared a lot to cope with post US and allied forces withdrawal in Afghanistan.

“We made all preparations and placed all security measures keeping in view the associated threats,” he added.

While elaborating the security risks, the DG ISPR said the security domain threat included risk of revival of sleeper cells, restoration of terrorist groups in Balochistan that can make nexus with hostile agencies.

“We are very clear and we have identified those agencies. The recent particular events also occurred due to it and indicates the risk,” he added.

Major General Babar Iftikhar said Afghan peace process started and prior to that it was presumed that peace in Afghanistan would have an impact on our side. He mentioned that Pakistan had fought a long, nerve-testing war against terror and achieved hard earned success. Commenting on the border security measures, he said the Frontier Corps capacity has been significantly beefed up where police and Levies training has been conducted under the supervision of the Pakistan Army.

The DG ISPR confirmed that there has been no organised terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan after the security operations by the Army. He noted that the fugitive leadership of terrorist groups was based in Afghanistan which was supported by the Indian intelligence agency RAW. In tribal areas and Balochistan, he said, over 7,000 security operations were conducted since May 1, 2021, where 42 terrorists were killed and also many soldiers of Pakistan Army got martyred and injured.

“Pakistan Army is ready to exterminate all threats to national peace and security. We are after them aggressively and they are on the run and in such aggressive posture you bear casualties. Our officers are leading the operations from the front and we are after them and would not let them take any respite,” Babar Iftikhar said.

The DG ISPR also highlighted the sacrifices made by the country in its fight against terrorism. He said over 86,000 innocent lives have been lost in the war on terror with $152 billion economic losses. However, he said, the security forces conducted over 1,300 security operations, cleared over 46,000 sq km area from terrorists control and some 18,000 terrorists were killed. He said tonnes of explosives were confiscated during various operations.

“I can say with authentication that no organised terrorist infrastructure exists in Pakistan,” he reiterated.

During the security operations, he said, the security forces along with kinetic measures also made efforts in the lawfare domain, however, various measures have been taken and legislation carried out in the country.

“The world has acknowledged the constructive role of Pakistan in the regional peace and stability,” he added.

The DG ISPR said Operation Raddul Fasaad’s vision was that use of power was the prerogative of state and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa took the entire effort under this vision to eliminate terrorism from its roots in the country. He said India has huge influence in Afghanistan and they used it to destabilise Pakistan.

“We have also presented dossier in November 2020 and gave evidence of Indian terrorism and clandestine designs against Pakistan,” he said.

The DG ISPR said there were training camps of RAW in Afghanistan which they used to unite all splinter anti-Pakistan groups.

“India is the biggest spoiler in the region,” he said.

Babar Iftikhar said intelligence agencies always operate and function in grey zones, whereas Pakistan’s peace was mainly relying on peace in Afghanistan.

“It will be difficult for India to operate against Pakistan in this case,” he added.

Responding to the recent statement of Afghan Vice President Amrullah Saleh who levelled allegations against Pakistan Air Force (PAF) supporting Taliban, he said, “Absolutely a false statement and I confirm that there are no such measures taken by PAF. The Afghan Air Force is operating on their side and no such activity was done by PAF. I will only deny this statement.”

Babar Iftikhar mentioned that recently during clashes between Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan Taliban around 40 ANA soldiers crossed towards the Pakistan side in Bajaur, and Pakistan returned them as a soldierly protocol with food and gifts. Commenting on the recent operation against terrorists in Kurram tribal district, he said on June 26, some 16 labourers working at a mobile tower site in Kurram were abducted by the terrorists. On June 27, 10 out of 16 labourers were released and unfortunately one labourer’s body was found. He said the security forces launched a series of IBOs in highly inhospitable terrain under extreme weather conditions. He said the terrorists were continuously tracked and pursued, whereas, in an IBO on July 13, 2021, three terrorists were killed and Captain Basit Ali and Sepoy Hazrat Bilal sacrificed their lives while rescuing the innocent labourers. Despite the martyrdom of two soldiers, the security forces conducted the operation and rescued the remaining five labourers, he said, adding, “Operation is underway and we are going to eliminate them. The Pakistan Army will pay every price for the peace and protection of the country.”