By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Army on Tuesday issued a stern warning against what it called “malicious” propaganda and unfounded accusations targeting the military, following a series of videos on social media that showed soldiers in a physical altercation with police officers.
The incident, which took place last week in Bahawalnagar, involved a scuffle between army soldiers and Punjab police personnel after a soldier’s relative was reportedly arrested without the necessary paperwork.
“The issue was promptly addressed and resolved by the military and police authorities,” the army stated on Friday, without providing specifics of the incident. However, the videos have led to criticism of the army on social media.
The concerns were raised at the 264th Corps Commanders’ Conference at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, chaired by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir. A statement released by the army’s media wing expressed concern over the “malicious propaganda campaign meant to demoralize the Armed Forces.”
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the forum decided to counteract such campaigns as the “baseless allegations against security forces are part of a larger design to drive a wedge between the people and Pakistan’s armed forces.”
“The army will not allow such efforts to succeed and will ensure stern action against them as per the law and Constitution.”
The Bahawalnagar incident was not the first instance of tension between military and police forces in Pakistan. A similar episode occurred in September 2016 when Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police filed a complaint against army officials for assaulting four Motorway Police officers following a traffic violation.
The ISPR said that recent terrorist acts, including an attack on Chinese nationals in Bisham and the killing of civilians in Balochistan, were also condemned by the military officials. General Munir issued directives for heightened operational readiness and professional training to prevent terrorist activities. “Armed forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan, fully backed by the resilient nation, remain determined to permanently eliminate this menace from Pakistan,” COAS Munir was quoted as saying in the press release.
The forum also discussed the threat posed by terrorist groups operating from Afghanistan, emphasizing their impact on regional and global security and their role as proxies against Pakistan’s economic interests, particularly the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
Additionally, the military brass expressed grave concern over the situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir and reiterated Pakistan’s support for the Kashmiri people. The forum also stood in solidarity with the people of Palestine, condemning the ongoing human rights violations in Gaza. Concerns were raised about the rising tensions in the Middle East, with the military leaders noting the potential for a broader regional conflict if immediate de-escalation does not occur.
The military also pledged full support to the government’s efforts to achieve sustainable socio-economic growth. This includes combating illegal activities such as smuggling and electricity theft and ensuring the safe repatriation of all illegal foreigners.
The powerful military has ruled the country directly for over 30 years since it gained independence in 1947. Even when not in power, the military remains the invisible guiding hand of Pakistani politics, with an outsized role in decision-making related to foreign affairs, national security, and the economy.
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