India declared Muhammad Asif dead; DG ISPR presented

DG Inter-Services Public Relations Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has raised serious questions over India’s claim that former Pakistani soldier Muhammad Asif was killed during an operation in Occupied Kashmir. During the press conference, he presented Muhammad Asif before the media.

Indian authorities and the media had claimed after the September 29 operation that an armed man had been killed in the Coorg-Yusmarg area of ​​Occupied Kashmir. The man was later identified as Muhammad Asif, alias Hashim Musa, and was said to be affiliated with the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba.

A Pakistani military spokesman rejected the identification, saying that the man India had declared dead was actually former SSG Havaldar Muhammad Asif, who was in Pakistan. He told a press conference that despite Indian claims, Muhammad Asif is alive and has himself been presented before the media.

Muhammad Asif said that he got the news of his alleged death through social media reports. According to him, friends called him and told him that the Indian army had claimed to have killed him in Kashmir. He said that he was at his house at the time and was surprised by the news. Muhammad Asif retired from the Pakistan Army in 2023 and lives in his native Attock district.

The DG ISPR described the Indian action as an alleged false flag operation and said that verifiable evidence should be presented before making allegations of terrorism against Pakistan. According to him, if India has evidence related to any incident, it should be presented in an appropriate forum.

Describing the Indian claim, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that the Indian army tried to link Muhammad Asif to various attacks after the operation. Indian authorities had declared him a wanted person for several years, while Pakistan has rejected this identification.

In the press conference, the DG ISPR also discussed the overall security situation in Pakistan. He said that the country has been fighting terrorism for the past two decades and there will be no compromise on matters of national security.

He also reiterated the stance of continuing anti-terrorism measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. The DG ISPR described the banned TTP and BLA as security threats and said that the state would take necessary steps to protect citizens.

The security situation related to Afghanistan was also part of the press conference. The DG ISPR expressed concern over the alleged use of Afghan soil by terrorist groups. Pakistan has long been raising the issue of alleged terrorism originating from Afghan soil with Afghan authorities.

Regarding the tension with India, the DG ISPR said that Pakistan is ready to protect its borders and national security. He said that in case of any aggression, the country will take necessary steps to defend itself.

Talking about occupied Kashmir, he criticised the Indian security policy and the situation there. He said that presenting the Kashmir issue only in the context of terrorism does not show the full picture of the problem.

The press conference also asked about the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement with Saudi Arabia. The DG ISPR said that Pakistan is fully committed to implementing the agreement. However, he clarified that some details related to the agreement cannot be revealed to the media because information on defence cooperation is confidential.

He said that Pakistan is aware of its responsibility regarding the security of Saudi Arabia and the defence of the Two Holy Mosques. The Mecca Defence Agreement is being seen in the context of defence cooperation between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

On a question related to domestic politics, the DG ISPR said that the Pakistan Army has nothing to do with politics. He stressed keeping counter-terrorism operations separate from political matters.

He said that the security of the state is of fundamental importance and the war on terrorism cannot be affected for any political purpose.

The press conference generally discussed India’s recent claims, occupied Kashmir, counter-terrorism operations, security threats from Afghan soil, Pak-Saudi defence cooperation and the political affairs of the army.