RAWALPINDI: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Thursday presented retired SSG Havaldar Muhammad Asif before the media, after the Indian Army claimed that a militant killed during an operation in occupied Jammu and Kashmir was a former SSG soldier from Pakistan.
Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, the DG ISPR said India had staged what he described as another “false-flag operation” on September 29.
He said an Indian Army corps posted on social media on the night of September 29, claiming to have conducted an operation in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and killed a “terrorist”. Indian authorities also claimed that the body of a Lashkar-e-Taiba militant had been recovered and identified the alleged militant as Muhammad Asif, alias Hashim Musa.
According to Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, Indian authorities later claimed that Asif was a former SSG havaldar and that the slain militant was a Pakistani national. An Indian news agency also reportedly published details including an alleged service number.
The DG ISPR said Indian authorities accused Asif of carrying out attacks in different areas and linked him to several incidents, including the Pahalgam attack. India also claimed that three associates of Asif had been killed.
He said the Indian narrative portrayed Asif as a figure capable of carrying out multiple attacks, describing the claims as part of what Pakistan considers a staged operation.
‘I Am Alive and Living in Rawalpindi’
During the press conference, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry presented Muhammad Asif before the media.
Speaking to journalists, Asif said he is originally from Pindi Gheb in Attock district and had received calls from friends after reports of his alleged death circulated on social media.
“My friends called me yesterday and told me that the Indian forces had killed me,” Asif said. “I was surprised because I was at home. How could the Indian Army have killed me?”
Asif said he retired from the Special Services Group in 2023 after serving the country and remains willing to serve Pakistan.
He said he currently works for a private security company and lives in Rawalpindi.
“I am alive, I live in Rawalpindi and I am standing before you,” he said, while condemning what he described as baseless allegations against him.
India Sponsoring Terrorism Around the World
Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry also said that India sponsors militant organisations to carry out terrorism in Pakistan.
He specifically alleged that India has provided funding to the Mukti Bahini and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), saying such support was not a secret.
The DG ISPR said Pakistan had identified six reasons behind what he called India’s “false-flag drama”. He alleged that India uses terrorism allegations against others to divert attention from its own actions.
Speaking about the situation in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, he claimed that more than one million Indian troops and personnel from other institutions were deployed there and alleged that residents faced restrictions on movement between villages.
He further accused India of attempting to portray security operations as counterterrorism measures and said New Delhi used such narratives to conceal what Pakistan considers its own activities.
‘Pakistan Will Respond Strongly to Any Threat’
The DG ISPR warned that Pakistan would respond strongly to any Indian military action.
“If India wants to do something, let it come forward; our response will be very strong,” he said, adding that Pakistan would not compromise on national security.
He said the armed forces were prepared to respond to any hostile action and would take whatever measures were necessary to protect the country.
Pakistan Reaffirms Commitment to Protect Holy Sites
On the security of the holy sites in Saudi Arabia, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan’s commitment was “absolute” and firm.
He said Pakistan remained fully committed to implementing the Makkah defence agreement, while noting that details of defence cooperation under the arrangement were confidential and could not be discussed publicly.
Afghanistan Has Become a Hub for Global Terrorist Groups
Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said that Afghanistan has become a hub for terrorist organisations from around the world, while accusing the Afghan Taliban government of facilitating and funding militant groups.
DG ISPR said India claims to be a provider of regional security but, in his view, was unable to ensure its own security.
He alleged that the Afghan Taliban government had itself chosen to facilitate and fund terrorist groups.
“Afghanistan has become a hub for terrorist organisations from around the world,” Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said.
He also criticised India, saying New Delhi was living in what he called an imaginary “Shining India” and questioned the country’s decision to honour a pilot involved in the loss of an Indian military aircraft.
‘Army Has Nothing to Do With Politics’
Responding to questions about political matters, the DG ISPR said dialogue with the provinces was the responsibility of the federal government.
He reiterated that the Pakistan Army had no role in politics.
