On Monday, the Pakistan Army firmly denied the existence of Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, a purported counter-terrorism operation intended to eradicate militants and promote economic stability. The army labeled the rumors as the work of an “organized political mafia.”
Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, Army spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmad Sharif clarified the army’s position on the alleged operation and other critical issues. “A massive illegal, political mafia rose to sabotage the operation and the first move of that mafia was to make the operations controversial through false and fake arguments,” he stated.
Comparison to Previous Operations
In response to a query regarding potential displacements similar to those seen in previous major military operations, such as Operation Zarb-e-Azb and Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, Lt Gen Sharif emphasized the distinct nature of the current initiative. “This is not a military operation but a comprehensive counter-terrorism initiative aimed at fostering economic growth and stability,” he said.
National Action Plan Reinforcement
Lt Gen Sharif underscored that the initiative was intended to reinforce the National Action Plan (NAP) launched in 2014 to combat militancy. He highlighted ongoing efforts, bolstered by law enforcement agencies and effective legislation, as envisioned in the original announcement of the operation.
“A very strong lobby did not want the objectives of the NAP to be fulfilled because the stakes in sabotaging the operation are very high and it’s not based on any ideology but involves a lot of money,” Sharif noted.
Ongoing Counter-Terrorism Efforts
The spokesperson provided updates on the counter-terrorism operations conducted so far this year, revealing that 22,409 intelligence-based operations had been carried out against terrorists and their facilitators. “Over 112 operations are being conducted daily by the military and law enforcement agencies against terrorism,” he added.
Challenges and Accusations
Addressing the Bannu protest case, Lt Gen Sharif accused the provincial government of failing to control the protesters, who became violent, raised anti-state slogans, and looted an army supply depot. He also discussed the rise of fake news and propaganda targeting the armed forces and state institutions.
“The purpose of this press conference is to clarify the army’s stance on some important topics,” Sharif said, emphasizing the increase in “organized propaganda, false, wrong, and concocted news” against the armed forces in recent times.
NAP Implementation Status
Lt Gen Sharif highlighted that while the NAP decided in 2014 to establish Counter-Terrorism Departments at the provincial levels, progress had been slow. “It was also decided to register all the religious seminaries, but only 16,000 out of about 32,000 seminaries have been registered so far,” he pointed out.
The press conference aimed to clear misconceptions and reiterate the army’s commitment to counter-terrorism and national stability amidst political challenges and misinformation campaigns.