Pakistan Armed Forces Fully Prepared to Respond to Any Indian Move: DG ISPR

Rawalpindi, The Gulf Observer: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Thursday said that Pakistan would make no compromise on the protection of its geographical borders and national security, stressing that the armed forces were fully prepared to respond promptly to any move by India.

Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, the DG ISPR said Pakistan was prepared to respond to what he described as any Indian attempt to create a security-related “drama” and would take all necessary measures to safeguard the country’s national interests.

He said any such move by New Delhi would receive a strong response, reiterating that Pakistan’s armed forces remained prepared to protect the country’s territorial integrity and security.

During the press conference, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif also presented retired Special Services Group (SSG) Havaldar Muhammad Asif to the media, following claims by Indian authorities that a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander, identified as Asif alias Musa, had been killed during an operation in the Korag area of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir on September 29.

The DG ISPR rejected the identification, saying that the individual presented by Indian authorities as the militant killed in the operation was in fact a living Pakistani citizen and former army serviceman.

Muhammad Asif, who appeared before journalists, said he was at his home when he learned through telephone calls and media reports that he had allegedly been reported killed by the Indian Army.

He said he began receiving calls after reports of his purported death emerged and was informed that Indian authorities had claimed that he had been killed.

Providing details of his service, Asif said he joined the Pakistan Army in 2000 and became part of the SSG in 2005. He said he served in the SSG for 18 years before retiring from the military in 2023.

He added that he subsequently worked for a private security company for three years and had been living with his family at their home in Rawalpindi for the past three to four months.

Asif described the allegations against him as false and said that he had performed his military duties with courage and dedication.

Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif said Indian authorities and media outlets had portrayed Asif alias Musa as a terrorist and attributed attacks in various areas to him. He added that Indian reports had also claimed that three associates of Musa were killed during the operation.

The DG ISPR said that India had previously carried out what Pakistan describes as false-flag operations aimed at maligning Pakistan and reiterated that Islamabad remained committed to protecting its territorial sovereignty and national security.