Maj. Gen. Asif Ghafoor holds final presser as DG ISPR Says if
India starts war, we will finish it Feels honoured to see Indians
happy over exit Lauds media role in projecting narrative
By Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: In what could be deemed a curtain call, a press conference of defence and military affairs reporters were called by the outgoing Director-General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (DG-ISPR) Asif Ghafoor, newsmen reported on Thursday. The military spokesperson said that Pakistan had fought a decisive war against terrorism for the past two decades, paying homage to Pakistan’s print and broadcast media Ghafoors said that the media played a pivotal role in the battle for narratives. Asif Ghafoor claimed that and Indo-Pak war was knocking at the door in February of last year. “Pakistan Armed Forces stalled the catastrophe with their grit, valour, superior training and bravado. A noteworthy retaliation to Indian overtures resulted in maintaining peace and stability in the region,” said DG-ISPR. Lauding the display of professionalism shown by the Pakistan Armed Forces on that fateful day, Ghafoor hailed the Pakistan Army, Navy and Airforce for their excellence. “Pakistani leadership tackled the intricate matter very carefully, COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa’s superior military strategy saved the region from doom,” added Asif Ghafoor. “There is no victor in war, the only loser is humanity.” “If a war keeps being forced on us then we will not shy away, we will retaliate with all our might and expertise, Pakistan Armed Forces and the nation will always be ready to ‘surprise’ India.” “We have maintained that India will start the war but Pakistan will finish it.” Talking about the Kashmir issue, DG-ISPR said that the fire that rages in Kashmir may engulf the entire region. Talking about and explaining the term ‘Bajwa Doctrine’ the military spokesperson said that the Army Chief’s successful military diplomacy helped raise Pakistan’s stature in the world. “General Bajwa’s diplomacy highlighted Pakistan’s role as a harbinger of peace in the region. Pakistan has been placed in the positive relevance ratings from the persistent negative ratings of the past 20 years,” said Asif Ghafoor. “An Army does not fight merely on the strength of its firearms, rather it fights on the belief and its faith in God.” The Army Chief also played a very important role in ‘Madrassah reforms’ and brought the matter to the forefront, he also became an ambassador for religious tolerance and fraternity, Asif Ghafoor continued. Pak-Afghan and Pak-Iran borders have been made more secure and foolproof, Bajwa doctrine can be explained as not compromising on national security and bringing peace to the region. ISI, MI and IB have worked together diligently under the Army Chief to produce very positive results for the country. In conclusion, the outgoing DGISPR said that when he was serving in the position as the head of the military’s public relations wing’s head, “nothing said was a personal view.” Pakistan Armed Forces’ spokesperson Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor said he considered it an honour if Indians were happy over his exit from the post of DG ISPR. Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor was speaking to defence reports on Thursday when he paid tribute to media and Pakistanis on social media who extended their support to the armed forces throughout his tenure. The DG ISPR reacted to Indian Prime Minister Modi’s recent remarks about the Indian army making Pakistan”bite the dust” in around seven to 10 days. “Indian leadership says it will destroy Pakistan in 7-10 days,” he said. “I want to tell them that Pakistan Army will always continue to give you [Indians] their surprises.” The DG ISPR said that no power on earth could defeat a united nation. He said the Indian army couldn’t defeat 800,000 people of occupied Kashmir. “How will you defeat Pakistan, a nation of 210 million people?” he asked. Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor said that Pakistan and India had almost gone to war The DG ISPR warned India against conducting any misadventure, saying that Pakistan will give an effective response in case of an “imposed war”. “I said it before, ‘You will start the war but we will end it’,” he said. Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor said Pakistan’s civil and military leadership wanted to bring about durable peace in the region. “The Indian civil and military leadership should also think about peace in the region,” he said, calling on the Indian armed forces to halt atrocities in occupied Kashmir. DG ISPR pays tribute to Gen Bajwa, says new military spokesperson to assume office from Feb 1 The military spokesperson paid tribute to army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, saying that he spearheaded Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad which continued the success of Operation Sherdil and Operation Zarb-e-Azb. “The army chief took difficult and important decisions to maintain peace in the country,” he said, crediting Gen Bajwa with playing an important role in bringing about religious tolerance and madressah reforms. He said that Pakistan was proud of its intelligence agencies and paid tribute to the spy agency for maintaining peace in the country and thwarting terrorism. Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor spoke about the role of the DG ISPR, saying that he could not deviate from the military’s policy. “A military spokesperson can’t say anything against the institute’s policy,” he said. “As a spokesperson, nothing you say is your personal opinion.” Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor said that the new DG ISPR will assume charge from February 1. He thanked defence reporters, media and Pakistanis who extended their support to the armed forces on social media. Earlier this month, Pakistan Army announced the posting of its new spokesperson, replacing Major General Asif Ghafoor with Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar as the director-general of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Maj Gen Ghafoor’s services were transferred to the 40th Infantry Division (Okara), where he will serve as the general officer commanding (GOC).
