RAWALPINDI: Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Major General Babar Iftikhar said no “conspiracy” was found during a meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) held to review the “threat letter”.
The Director General of the ISPR said in an interview with a private TV station that the National Security Council meeting, attended by all three services chiefs, the DG ISI and others, was briefed on the cipher issued and that the participants were told no ‘conspiracy’ was found in it.
He said the words ‘intervention’ and ‘conspiracy’ are used by the diplomats.
DG ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar said that the propaganda campaign by some quarters to malign the Pakistan Army and create division between the military and society will not be allowed to distort the facts.
Pak-China Ties
On the recent visit of COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa to China, DG ISPR Major General Babar Iftikhar termed it important and said that he is the first COAS to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He said that China always supported Pakistan in difficult situations as both countries are enjoying strategic ties. He said work on the CPEC is underway at full pace and ruled out any delay.
The Pakistan Army spokesperson said the recent visit to COAS will bring durable results in near future.
No increase in Defence Budget
The DG ISPR said that whenever the budget is presented, the debate on the defence budget starts. He went on to say that the challenges and threats related to the defence budget should also be looked into.
The spokesman of the Pak Army said that if you look at India’s increasing defence budget, it is always against Pakistan. Major General Babar Iftikhar said as compared to India’s 1.3 million troops, the number of the Pakistan Army is 0.55 million.
“Because of India, our 50,000 troops are stationed on the eastern border, 40 per cent of our forces are stationed on the western border and the rest in the cantonments. There has been no increase in the defence budget since 2020,” he said.
India lobbies to blacklist Pakistan
The cell has established communication between more than 30 different departments, ministries, and agencies, the spokesperson said. All departments have worked on the strategy and implemented 26 out of 27 points given by the FATF.
Pervez Musharraf
Given Pervez Musharraf’s current health condition, the military leadership believes it would be best if he returned to Pakistan. The decision on whether or not to return, however, lies with Musharraf’s family. The military has contacted his family and is waiting for a response before making any further arrangements.
Musharraf, 78, is critically ill these days as he is suffering from a condition called amyloidosis, his office said Friday.
