In a press conference held on Monday, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), addressed growing concerns and political controversies surrounding the “Azm-e-Istehkam” counter-terrorism campaign.
General Chaudhry clarified that Azm-e-Istehkam is not a military operation but a comprehensive counter-terrorism initiative designed to combat extremism through integrated national efforts. His comments came in response to political attempts to politicize and misrepresent the campaign.
Speaking from Rawalpindi, General Chaudhry highlighted that an Apex Committee meeting, the country’s top security body, had endorsed Azm-e-Istehkam as part of a national anti-terrorism policy, emphasizing its broad-based consensus. Despite this, the campaign has faced significant criticism and controversy, prompting the Prime Minister’s Office to issue a clarifying statement on June 24.
“Azm-e-Istehkam is being deliberately politicized,” General Chaudhry said. “There is a strong lobby that seeks to undermine the campaign’s objectives. This effort to create controversy serves no purpose but to disrupt our unified approach to counter-terrorism.”
Addressing concerns about the impact of the campaign, the DG ISPR assured that there are no designated no-go areas and that the campaign would not result in further displacements. He also noted that the military is actively engaged in daily operations, conducting four to five operations per hour across the country.
General Chaudhry provided detailed statistics, revealing that security forces have conducted 22,409 intelligence-based operations this year alone. Over 112 operations are carried out daily by various agencies, resulting in the neutralization of 31 high-value targets. The campaign has unfortunately claimed the lives of 137 officers and soldiers so far.
The DG ISPR also stressed the importance of reconstruction efforts in cleared areas. “The army’s role is to clear and secure areas. However, if reconstruction and governance are not ensured by provincial authorities, we risk falling into a cycle of ‘clear and hold,’ which can be exploited by adversaries to turn local sentiment against the military.”
General Chaudhry concluded by underscoring the stakes involved in Azm-e-Istehkam, asserting that the campaign’s success is crucial not only for eliminating terrorism but also for the country’s stability and future. “The stakes are very high, and the comprehensive approach of Azm-e-Istehkam is pivotal to our national security strategy,” he said.
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