18th Amendment not bad as a whole: DG ISPR

RAWALPINDI: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor clarified on Wednesday that the Pakistan Army had nothing to do with the NRO as things are moving according to a system.

While commenting on much-hyped about ‘Bajwa Doctrine’ he maintained that it did not mention the 18th Amendment or the judiciary, rather it is all about bringing complete peace and stability in the country.

“If there exists any Bajwa Doctrine, it is regarding restoration of complete peace in Pakistan and taking the country where it should be,” Major General Asif Ghafoor, while responding to a question at news briefing, said.

He said the army chief never said that the 18th Amendment was not good as a whole, adding that in the amendment many features, including decentralization of issues, are good things.

The DG ISPR said that it is better if a province is responsible for handling its it affairs,but they have to be capable of taking such decisions. He pointed out that during an off-the-record meeting with senior journalists and anchorpersons with the army chief, many topics came under discussion but some quarters lumped the entire conversation with ‘Bajwa Doctrine’.

He maintained if there was any Bajwa Doctrine, it should be seen in view of restoration of complete peace in Pakistan, which should be the dream of every Pakistani whether he is civilian or in uniform.

The army spokesman stressed on the United States and India that they should see Pakistan's role in the war against terrorism positively, saying both the countries should be thankful to Pakistan for its efforts towards peace.

He said the United States must recognise the historic positive role played by Pakistan in facilitating rapprochement between the US and China in 1970s, helping the US in becoming unipolar power and assisting Washington in gaining its objectives in Afghanistan.

“Had Pakistan not played its positive role, the United States might not be the uni-super power in the world,” the DG ISPR said admitting that President Trump’s tweet on advent of the year 2018 had affected relations between the two countries.

He also asked India to be thankful to Pakistan for its positive role. “Because of our geographical place, Pakistan was the buffer zone between India and war-torn Afghanistan otherwise the menace of terrorism had entered their country also,” he said.

General Asif Ghafoor, to a question, said despite the fact the Pakistan Army had been busy in war against terrorists but still the perpetual threat was from India. Warning India from destabilising Pakistan, General Asif Ghafoor said that unstable Pakistan was not in the interest of India itself and the region. “Pakistan’s role will be undermined if it is seen negatively,” he said.

He said that India should not support any instability in Pakistan through Afghanistan or through ceasefire violations on the Line of Control (LoC). Commenting on ceasefire violations on the LoC, the army spokesman said that India was acting as an irresponsible state, saying that during the last three months, there have been 948 violations on the LoC and the Working Boundary. “India should realise that aggression on the Line of Control will ruin the prospects of peace,” he said.

“Do not undermine defence capability of Pakistan be it conventional or non-conventional and you need to have trust in your armed forces,” Major General Asif Ghafoor told a questioner. Warning India and others from making attempts to sabotage the CPEC project, the DG ISPR said mega project was in interest of region and not only for Pakistan and China.

To a question about inviting the Indian diplomats to the Pakistan Day parade, Major General Asif Ghafoor said that diplomatic norms were reflected in Pakistan’s action. “We should behave like a responsible state. From our action, they should see how resilient our nation is,” he said.

About sending Pakistani troops to Saudi Arabia, he said that any decision would be taken in the light of a bilateral security agreement between the two countries. “The troops will be sent to Saudi Arabia with the approval of the federal government for training and advisory role in Saudi Arabia and they will not be part of any conflict with Yemen or against any country,” he said.

"As I have discussed with you, speculations are made when discussions are held. The army's point of view is disseminated through either the DG ISPR or talks held by the army chief and there is an official press release for it," he stressed.

He said the Pakistan Army was not behind any dharna nor it would be in future. “The Pakistan Army is a much organised institution and we will communicate any discussion to you through the official channel,” he said.

"Please, understand that 2018 is an election year and there will be a lot of political and election activity and it should be seen in that light." "Other institutions, too, are performing their jobs and Pakistan will only develop and be more secure when every institution will perform its job, without any fear, while remaining in its jurisdiction as prescribed in the Constitution," he added.

Further, he said, "The army will not announce the elections. The Election Commission of Pakistan will announce and the sitting government and interim government have a role in it." Major General Ghafoor added, "The army, in the context of elections, will do every job assigned by the government and the ECP within the Constitution, in aid of civil power."

Responding to a question about a protest by the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement about landmines installed by the Pakistan Army in Fata and KP that allegedly left 80 persons disabled, the DG ISPR said the situation in the region was not what it had been previously.

“I believe most of you have gone for yourself and seen the current situation in Fata and KP,” he said. “The intensity of violence in Fata and KP that once existed in the region is not the same anymore.”

Major General Ghafoor further said, “No responsible Pakistani justified the killing of Naqeebullah Mehsud. We also want an investigation into Naqeebullah’s killing and for those responsible to be dealt with according to law."

He said security situation in Balochistan had improved to a great extent and peace has returned to the province. He said army has deployed more troops in the areas where economic projects are in progress and security forces are assisting the provincial government.

Major General Asif Ghafoor said the Pakistan armed forces are fully cognizant of the challenges being faced by the country and are ready to play their role in resolving them. He said today's Karachi was very different from the city that was in 2013 saying that there were 70 'No Go Areas' in the city and now there was not even a single one. “Successful hosting of the PSL final in Karachi is also reflective of restoration of peace in the city,” he said adding that he had suggested the PCB head to hold the next year’s PSL matches in other parts of the country also.

Appreciating the role of intelligence agencies in foiling the designs of enemies, he said the security agencies played a lead role in the war on terror and busted seven big networks of terrorists besides arresting 16 would-be suicide bombers. Besides, 11 cases were solved and 572 terrorist incidents were averted while 946 threat warnings were issued.

"We are successful today due to struggle of intelligence agencies like the ISI, Military Intelligence and Intelligence Bureau among others. We should be proud of them," he added saying the intelligence agencies played the front-line defence role.