The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has clarified that the former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa’s statement on Pakistan Army’s “combat worthiness” was “quoted out of the context”.
Responding to the media discussion on Pakistan Army’s combat worthiness, ISPR assured that the military will always remain ready to defend the motherland.
“Recently, there have been discussions in the media on the Pakistan Army’s combat worthiness in view of the condition of certain weapon systems on its inventory,” ISPR said in its statement.
“To this end, views of former army chief on the future threat to Pakistan, which he shared with media persons in an off-the-record interactive session, have been quoted out of the context,” the ISPR said.
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“We always took and will continue to take pride in our operational preparedness and utmost combat worthiness. Pakistan’s Armed Forces always did and will continue to keep their weapons, equipment and battle-hardened human resource ever ready for the defence of the motherland,” it further added.
To clarify, earlier, journalist Hamid Mir revealed in a TV show that General (retd) Bajwa in a meeting with 20-25 journalists had stated that Pakistan was not in a condition to fight a war with India. The statement was picked by Indian media outlets and was widely reported on.
"Pak army chief surrendered to India on Kashmir. Gen Bajwa refused to fight India coz he believed Pak army was incapable to fight Indian Army"
– Pak journalist Hamid Mirpic.twitter.com/RTRlkQLnIl
— Pakistan Untold (@pakistan_untold) April 24, 2023
Pertinent to mention that earlier DG ISPR Maj-Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry asserted that Pakistan is always battle ready. He made the comments during his maiden press conference where he briefed the media on the current security situation both on eastern and western borders as well as other professional matters.
“If need be, then we can take this battle into the enemy’s territory. We are a battle-hardened army and are forces which are led from the front by the officers,” he had stressed.
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