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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military on Thursday plainly denied that there had been discussion at a National Security Committee meeting last month about a “foreign conspiracy aimed at regime change in Pakistan”, as claimed by former prime minister Imran Khan.
In a wide ranging press conference, Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar, the army’s spokesperson, said that Pakistan’s institutions are fully capable of thwarting international conspiracies but the minutes of the national security committee meeting did not contain the word “conspiracy”.
“As far as the military’s response about the NSC meeting, the stance was fully given and a statement was issued which clearly shows what was concluded in that meeting,” he said.
“The words are in front of you, the words are clear. Was there any word such as ‘conspiracy’ used? I do not think so,” Gen Babar said, noting that the government can declassify the minutes of the NSC meeting if it desires.
The spokesperson said that the cipher from the Pakistan ambassador to the US was also received by the ISI and it briefed the NSC based on that cable. He explained that demarches are given not just on conspiracies but for many reasons. “In this case it was given for undiplomatic language and is equal to interference,” he explained.
He also clarified that the US had never asked for any military bases in Pakistan – countering Imran Khan’s narrative that he was “targeted” by Washington for refusing this demand.
Khan, Babar said, was asked about giving bases to the US in an interview. “If a demand like that would have been made, the army would have had the same stance as the PM. But the reality is that they never asked for bases,” he stated.
Commenting on Khan’s Moscow visit, Gen Iftikhar confirmed that the army was on board and was taken into confidence. “There was institutional input that he should go. It was in no one’s wildest dreams that they (Russia) would announce war when the prime minister was there, which was obviously very embarrassing.”
Answering a question on Imran Khan’s comments about Pakistan’s nuclear assets at his power show in Peshawar on Wednesday night, the military spokesperson cautioned everyone to be careful when talking about nuclear assets.
“They aren’t associated to any one political leadership,” he said, adding Pakistan had one of the best systems and there was no such threat to them.
Gen Iftikhar also pointed out that there were rumours about the army chief’s extension. “Let me put this to rest. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is neither seeking extension nor will he accept it. He will be retiring on time on November 29 this year.”
“This is character assassination without evidence,” he remarked.
To another question on whether Khan had approached the military leadership to help him find a way out of the vote of no-confidence, the spokesperson said that it was “unfortunate” that the political leadership had been unwilling to talk amongst themselves. “So the army chief and ISI chief went to the PM’s office and discussed three scenarios with him,” he said, adding that one of the options was to allow the no-confidence motion to proceed. The other was that the prime minister resigns or the no-confidence motion is retracted and the assemblies are dissolved. The army chief took these options to the opposition, which said “no” to anything except proceeding with the vote, he clarified.
“No option was given from the establishment,” he said, suggesting that the Khan-led previous government had merely wished for the army chief to facilitate a dialogue with the opposition. On questions about a surge in propaganda against the armed forces on social media — primarily from supporters of the former ruling party — Maj Gen Iftikhar said it was intended to amplify existing fissures. “There do exist fissures and they get amplified like this. To pitch people’s political thoughts and misgivings with such speed, especially among the youth who may not be as well-informed, is unfortunate,” he said. “We need to insulate our society from all this on an institutional level and on an individual level,” he said, adding that it was tragic that the army had become a special target.
To a question about rumours of rifts within the military — with some groups favouring the ousted government — the spokesman said the army works on unity of command.
In a wide ranging press conference, Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar, the army’s spokesperson, said that Pakistan’s institutions are fully capable of thwarting international conspiracies but the minutes of the national security committee meeting did not contain the word “conspiracy”.
“As far as the military’s response about the NSC meeting, the stance was fully given and a statement was issued which clearly shows what was concluded in that meeting,” he said.
“The words are in front of you, the words are clear. Was there any word such as ‘conspiracy’ used? I do not think so,” Gen Babar said, noting that the government can declassify the minutes of the NSC meeting if it desires.
The spokesperson said that the cipher from the Pakistan ambassador to the US was also received by the ISI and it briefed the NSC based on that cable. He explained that demarches are given not just on conspiracies but for many reasons. “In this case it was given for undiplomatic language and is equal to interference,” he explained.
He also clarified that the US had never asked for any military bases in Pakistan – countering Imran Khan’s narrative that he was “targeted” by Washington for refusing this demand.
Khan, Babar said, was asked about giving bases to the US in an interview. “If a demand like that would have been made, the army would have had the same stance as the PM. But the reality is that they never asked for bases,” he stated.
Commenting on Khan’s Moscow visit, Gen Iftikhar confirmed that the army was on board and was taken into confidence. “There was institutional input that he should go. It was in no one’s wildest dreams that they (Russia) would announce war when the prime minister was there, which was obviously very embarrassing.”
Answering a question on Imran Khan’s comments about Pakistan’s nuclear assets at his power show in Peshawar on Wednesday night, the military spokesperson cautioned everyone to be careful when talking about nuclear assets.
“They aren’t associated to any one political leadership,” he said, adding Pakistan had one of the best systems and there was no such threat to them.
Gen Iftikhar also pointed out that there were rumours about the army chief’s extension. “Let me put this to rest. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is neither seeking extension nor will he accept it. He will be retiring on time on November 29 this year.”
“This is character assassination without evidence,” he remarked.
To another question on whether Khan had approached the military leadership to help him find a way out of the vote of no-confidence, the spokesperson said that it was “unfortunate” that the political leadership had been unwilling to talk amongst themselves. “So the army chief and ISI chief went to the PM’s office and discussed three scenarios with him,” he said, adding that one of the options was to allow the no-confidence motion to proceed. The other was that the prime minister resigns or the no-confidence motion is retracted and the assemblies are dissolved. The army chief took these options to the opposition, which said “no” to anything except proceeding with the vote, he clarified.
“No option was given from the establishment,” he said, suggesting that the Khan-led previous government had merely wished for the army chief to facilitate a dialogue with the opposition. On questions about a surge in propaganda against the armed forces on social media — primarily from supporters of the former ruling party — Maj Gen Iftikhar said it was intended to amplify existing fissures. “There do exist fissures and they get amplified like this. To pitch people’s political thoughts and misgivings with such speed, especially among the youth who may not be as well-informed, is unfortunate,” he said. “We need to insulate our society from all this on an institutional level and on an individual level,” he said, adding that it was tragic that the army had become a special target.
To a question about rumours of rifts within the military — with some groups favouring the ousted government — the spokesman said the army works on unity of command.
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