RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: Without naming anyone, the Director General (DG) Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt General Ahmed Sharif has said that a “massive, illegal political mafia” in the Country is trying to sabotage the State’s Azm-e-Istehkam operation to fulfil its vested interests.
While addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi on Monday, the DG ISPR said that certain political elements and mafias are inducing fake propaganda to undermine national security efforts.
The DG ISPR said that in recent past, an increase has been witnessed in organized propaganda, false, wrong news and concocted news against the armed forces.
Lt General Ahmed Sharif highlighted the critical need to address the escalating disinformation and propaganda targeting Pakistan military.
Referring to Azm-e-Istehkam, the DG ISPR said that this is not a military operation but a comprehensive counter-terrorism initiative aimed at fostering economic growth and stability.
Lt General Ahmed Sharif mentioned that that the National Action Plan (NAP) aimed to regularize and register religious seminaries but only about 16,000 have been registered while the status of 50 percent of them remains unknown.
“Is military responsible for such task?, he questioned.
In response to a question about criticism of and the narrative against the army and its leadership on social media, the ISRP termed it “digital terrorism.”
The director general ISPR said that digital terrorists used the tools of cell phones, computers, falsehood and propaganda to impose their will on society, the same as regular terrorists.
“Both are meant to target Pakistan armed forces,” he said that comparing real terrorism with digital terrorism.
Providing updates on counter-terrorism efforts, he said that 22,409 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) have been conducted in 2024 against terrorists and their facilitators. He added that on average, over 112 operations are being conducted daily by the military and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) against terrorism.
 Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt General Ahmed Sharif has said that a “massive, illegal political mafia” in the Country is trying to sabotage the State’s Azm-e-Istehkam operation to fulfil its vested interests.){kind=link}