Islamabad: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry addressed press conference here. He briefed media on security-related matters. In particular, he condemned 56 ceasefire violations by neighbouring India along Line of Control (LoC).

These included 22 cases of speculative fire incidents, three airspace violations, six minor incidents of ceasefire violations and 25 technical air violations, he said. Meanwhile, Pakistan has shot down six Indian spy quadcopters. DG ISPR also stressed that Pakistan was forever prepared to fully counter such aggressions by India. He lauded security forces for their counter-terrorism efforts. DG ISPR stressed that terrorists, plotters and facilitators involved in incidents of terrorism were also exposed and arrested. He lauded efforts of security forces engaged in anti-terrorism activities, paying tribute to 137 officers and men that were martyred and 117 officers and men that were injured during operations since January. “Entire nation pays tribute to these brave sons and their families who sacrificed their precious lives for peace and security of country,” he said. “No one should doubt resolve, commitment and capabilities of the Pakistan Army, law enforcement agencies and intelligence agencies to eradicate terrorism,” DG ISPR added. “Our successful war against terrorism will continue till end of last terrorist,” he stressed.

General Chaudhry said, “In war against terrorism, scholars and media have also played their full role, which is commendable” as they have collectively “Rejected false narrative of TTP”. “No individual or armed group can be allowed to take law into their hands,” he said, “societies develop only with supremacy and observance of law.” In present year, 219 events of terrorist activity have been reported in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa followed by 206 in Balochistan, 6 in Sindh and 5 in Punjab. General Chaudhry revealed that total of 8,269 intelligence-based operations have been conducted as result of which 1535 terrorists have been killed or apprehended. Of these, 4,040 IBOs were conducted in Balochistan, another 3,591 in K-P, 119 in Punjab and 519 operations were conducted in Sindh. DG ISPR revealed that on average over 70 IBOs were being conducted daily by Army, police and LEAs since January. He said that successful IBOs against terrorist networks led to identification of suicide attacker in February 11 bombing at Mari Petroleum Company in North Waziristan. Speaking of January 23 attack on Police Lines in Peshawar, he said that suicide bomber had belonged to Jamaat-ul-Ahrar in collaboration with TTP.

General Chaudhry informed media about February 23 Karachi Police Office Building attackers as well, all three of whom were killed. “Three masterminds of this attack were also arrested afterwards,” he said noting that explosives and other ammunition were also retrieved from them. DG also revealed that most of work on border fencing has been completed along 3,141 kilometres in an effort to curtail terrorist activity.

Published in The Daily National Courier, April, 26 2023

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