'Military shouldn't be dragged into political matters': DG ISPR

Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, on Friday firmly stated that the Pakistan Army has no interest in holding talks with political parties, and the military should not be dragged into political matters

Speaking to BBC Urdu, Lt Gen Chaudhry clarified that the army engages only with the state, not with individual political entities. “We speak to the state of Pakistan, the state formed under the constitution with political parties,” he said.

“Whatever government is in place at any given time, that is the state. And the Pakistan Army operates under that state.”

He reiterated that the armed forces carry out their duties within constitutional bounds, regardless of which political party is in power. Appealing to all stakeholders, he urged that the military should not be dragged into political matters.

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Lt Gen Chaudhry also addressed the spread of misinformation, stating that false assumptions are often circulated to politicise the army’s role, stating, “One such rumour is that the army does not perform its duties and is involved in politics,” he noted.

Citing instances like the "Ma’rakah-e-Haq," he affirmed that the military remains committed to its professional duties.

“Our loyalty is to the people, the sovereignty, and the territorial integrity of Pakistan,” he added.

He questioned why the military’s leadership is frequently mentioned during times of political instability. “This question should be directed at those political figures or parties that attempt to make the army controversial, perhaps to hide their own failures,” he remarked.

Lt Gen Chaudhry concluded by stressing that dialogue among political actors is solely the responsibility of politicians, not the military.