Democracy has no threat from Pakistan Army: DG ISPR

RAWALPINDI: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor on Saturday said the armed forces pose no threat to democracy in Pakistan.

"There is no threat to democracy from the Pakistan Army, but there could be a threat to democracy if its requirements are not being met," he said.

"I want to add that there needs to be stability. The government needs to continue and an established democratic system needs to continue," said the military spokesman. 

"I have to say this because there are a lot of rumours about martial law and the installation of a technocratic government."

"We will play our part as and when required but whatever we do will be done by staying in our defined legal and constitutional limits," Major General Asif Ghafoor said while addressing a press conference. 

Referring to an earlier statement about the country’s economy that garnered harsh criticism from Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Ghafoor said that he felt disappointed by the minister’s reaction.

“I was disappointed, both as a soldier and citizen, at what was referred to as an irresponsible statement by me,” he said. “The country’s security and economy are closely interlinked and directly related."

He added that the recently held seminar on the interplay of security and economy included all relevant stakeholders.”

He insisted that all of the stakeholders, including the business community, have to come together to jointly tackle the current challenges to Pakistan’s economy.

“The security situation plays a key role in the country’s economy and all stakeholders must jointly work to improve the country’s situation,” Ghafoor said. 

“I have never said in any of my press conferences that only the armed forces have worked hard against the current challenges; I have always said that all institutions have made great efforts to move towards a better future.”

He added that all stakeholders will continue to make joint efforts to counter all challenges, adding that he stands by his earlier statement as that was the army’s stance and not his ‘personal view.’ 

Maj Gen Ghafoor, elaborating on the recently held seminar on Pakistan's economy in which the Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa delivered a keynote address, said that Gen Bajwa had also asked the attendees of the conference to pay taxes and play their role in strengthening Pakistan's economy. 

"Last year, the taxes recovered were only 39pc, and from the private sector, the recovery was only 40pc. It is too meagre. That is all I said, that the tax base needs to be increased and I stand by it."

The army spokesman added that if Pakistan's economy follows the model of a borrowed economy than vital decisions, including decisions on security, can be compromised. 

"If the economy is stable than out decision making will be stronger too."

Civilian supremacy

The army spokesman said during the press conference that all decions made in the country are taken by the country's civilian leadership.

“The state institutions work in collaboration with one another but decisions are taken by the elected civilian government," stated the spokesman.

He further added that all decisions, whether it's concerning Rangers operations in Karachi or Punjab to the appointment of heads of armed forces, are sanctioned and approved by the civilian government. 

No more room to 'do more'

Discussing the regional security situation, the Army spokesman said that there is no more room to 'do more' in the fight against terrorism at the behest of other countries.

Ghafoor said that the armed forces have done a lot in Pakistan and 'will do more for the motherland in collaboration with our institutions' but there is 'no more room to do more’ for other countries.

"Pakistan has done a lot to improve its security situation in the past 15 years, especially during the past eight years," he said. 

"Only trust-based relations with the international community can take us forward."

"If we have to move towards enduring peace and stability, only cooperation can take us forward," said Ghafoor. 

Rescue of American-Canadian couple

Talking of the recently conducted intelligence-based operation which resulted in the rescue and safe recovery of the Canadian-American couple, along with their children, Ghafoor said better intelligence sharing and cooperation can ensure better security. 

Describing the operation, DG ISPR said a call was received by the American ambassador at 4:10pm, informing us that the family was being transferred to Pakistan. On the information we received, we sent our troops and used surveillance means to detect the vehicles transporting the hostages. 

Elaborating further, Maj Gen Ghafoor said the army has a very heavy presence in the area "but obviously we dont cover every inch". 

"We traced the two cars and cordoned them and fired on their vehicle. Our first priority was that the captives are brought out safely and wanted to isolate the captives and the terrorists so that the captives remain safe." 

He added that the objective was to ensure the terrorists, a driver and three gunmen, don't fire on the hostages. 

"Personnel of the ISI and the Army came between the terrorists and the fleeing terrorists so they could shield the hostages from gunfire. There is an Afghan refugee camp nearby, and the terrorists fled to it."

"We have been saying repeatedly that the Afghan refugees need to be sent back. It is difficult for us to distinguish who is a terrorist and who is a refugee in such situations."

After detailing the rescue operation, the Army spokesman played a clip of Joshua Boyle, one of the rescued hostage, who praised the professional conduct of the men who saved him and his family and also thanked the Pakistani Army and government for ensuring his family's safety during the rescue operation. 

"It was incredibly professional and we thank the Pakistanis who rescued us," said Boyle in the video clip. 

"It was tremendously professional and they took every effort to safeguard us. The car was riddled with bullets, the ISI and Army came in between us and the terrorists. There are good Muslims and those who are not Muslims. These guys [terrorists] are guided by external agendas," added the rescued Canadian. 

"In the five years that we were held captive, we saw no presence of Afghan soldiers and there are areas in the country where there is no [Afghan] government presence."

"Pakistanis are doing everything to help the problem. Western media will look at Pakistan a bit different now, the country is on the frontline of the war against terrorism," further said Boyle. 

The Army spokesman, referring to the statement issued by President Donald Trump after the rescue, said that: "You have seen the results, and you also saw Trump's statement. We feel happy that there is a level of trust and confidence that the US leadership has shown in Pakistan and Pakistan's security forces."

"We take it as a good start, and if a trust-based relationship continues, there will be positive results."

Referring to a question, Ghafoor said the Afghan war could not be won without Pakistan. "We need to cooperate in ways that are mutually beneficial. Engagement builds trust. You can have apprehensions, which could be debated about but security cooperation is ongoing and will continue."

Joint operations

In response to a question regarding Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif's statement about joint operations between US and Pakistani forces against the Haqqani network, the DG ISPR said there is no concept of a joint operation on Pakistani soil. 

"In military terminology, a joint operation means forces of both countries conduct an operation. There is no question of it. Full stop," said Ghafoor. 

"There has never been and never will be any joint operation on Pakistani soil."