Warning issued to PTM

Pakistan Army on Thursday issued a strict warning to Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) against crossing the "line", saying that the State will act to do whatever is required to establish its writ if the "line" is crossed.
Speaking at a news conference here, Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor said: "We are still dealing with them [PTM] very politely because they are grieved due to the war against terrorism fought in erstwhile FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa...These brothers of us have lived in the war zone since long. They have not committed violence so far. I request them that their demands are being dealt with by the government and army," he said. "But we are seeing them [PTM] going towards that line where the state has to take steps for establishing its writ," he warned.
He pointed out that PTM had initially forwarded three demands: reduction of checkposts, removal of landmines and issue of missing persons. On the checkposts, he said that in 2016, there were a total of 469 checkposts in erstwhile FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and that number has been reduced to 331.
"We are still facing the threat of terrorists' infiltration on our western border along Afghanistan...When we believe that there is no need for even one checkpost, we will remove them," he said.
He said that the process of fencing the border is continuing and around 60 percent work has been completed. "If there is an assurance given to us that there will be no threat from Afghanistan side, we can even recall our troops. But we cannot bring our troops back at this stage, as the fencing will be completed by next year and this will lead to a decrease in cross-border attacks," he added.
On the second demand of PTM, he said that 34 teams have been deputed in various areas to clear them from the landmines and till now 44 percent areas have been cleared and the process will continue till complete clearance of all the areas.
On the issue of missing persons, he said that overall cases since 2010-11 have been 7,000 with the Supreme Court hearing it on a daily basis. From these 7,000 cases over 4,000 cases had been settled by the Commission on the Missing Persons while 3,000 plus cases are under process with 2,000 cases are pending with the commission.
Maj Gen Ghafoor pointed out that a comprehensive military operation was launched against the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) due to which various terrorist elements were killed and the TTP shifted its entire network to Afghanistan. "How could one prove that the remaining missing persons are not among those killed in the operations or those shifted to Afghanistan with the TTP or its factions, or those engaged in fighting anywhere else?" he asked. "We want the issue of missing persons is resolved," he added.
The military spokesperson also referred to accountability within the institution, saying that Pakistan Army is a disciplined force and there is a chain of command and rules and regulations for internal accountability.
He pointed out that there is a branch which is tasked with discipline and accountability, adding that despite the measures in place if rules were violated, punishment was given.
In 2017-18 alone, he stated that around 400 Pakistan army officers and personnel have been given punishments ranging from a warning to dismissal and even jail. He said that a correction regime is also in place and punishment, ranging from a warning to imprisonment, exists for every unlawful activity.
Giving the example of an officer, he said that the officer was sent home after he was found guilty of Rs 10,000 corruption, adding that officers face more stricter punishments than soldiers.
The DG ISPR also reflected upon the country's "fault lines", saying that over the past 70 years Pakistan has suffered due to weak economy, lack of governance, flaws in judicial and education systems, and religious extremism.
"We have fought wars, tackled terrorism, rendered sacrifices, our economy suffered from it, but today we are at a 'watershed' from where the situation can be turned towards betterment or worst," he said. He said lesson should be learnt from the past, adding that the country has external and internal fault lines. He said that internal fault lines were exploited by the enemies.
"Media is the fourth pillar of the state and journalists are the opinion makers. If just for 6 months you create positive public awareness about Pakistan both locally and internationally, see where the country reaches," he said, adding that everyone should play one's role for a more prosperous Pakistan.
"The vision of the Army Chief is...We are reinstalling each brick to build such a Pakistan where there is rule of law and it is run according to the Constitution," he added.
Responding to a question about Prime Minister's statement regarding army's support to PTI's manifesto, he said that the criticism over the statement is because of the interpretation of his interview.
He said that it was right of every political party to interpret the interview. However, he stated that there was no harm if the Prime Minister says that in all the decisions taken by him there was input from the establishment. "Establishment is also part of this country and we want the country to move forward," he added.
About India's deal with Russia to acquire S-400 defence system, the DG ISPR said: "Pakistan is a confident and responsible nuclear capable state and any misadventure from India will be responded in a befitting manner."
Responding to Indian army chief's statement of Pakistan becoming a secular state before talks are held, he said that the Indian army chief should look into his own country. "They do not need to tell us what kind of a country we should be. Are they [India] secular? Look what is happening to the 200 million Muslims there...Pakistan was created in the name of Islam and will remain the same and India needs to tolerate us as we are," he added.
Referring to the ceasefire violations at the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary, he said that the violations have risen during the last 10 years and India is deliberately targeting civilians.
He said that Pakistan has taken several positive initiatives for peace with India, and the latest one is groundbreaking of the Kartarpur corridor. He said the corridor will be constructed in six months and 4,000 Sikh pilgrims will be able to visit Kartarpur daily. He said it will be one-way corridor from the Indian side to Kartarpur.
He regretted that the Kartarpur corridor initiative was negatively painted in India. However, he hoped that India will positively respond to this goodwill gesture.
Giving an overview of the internal security situation, the DG ISPR said that law and order has greatly improved across the country. He said that terrorist incidents have considerably decreased and hopefully there will be complete peace in the country as a result of the ongoing stability operations.
He said incidents of terrorism and other crimes like kidnapping for ransom and extortion have greatly decreased in erstwhile FATA, Balochistan, and Karachi.
He said over 3000 Fararis have laid down their arms in Balochistan during three years. He urged the disgruntled elements in Balochistan to relinquish their violent path and join the national mainstream.
He said position of Karachi on the index of law and order in the world has improved from 6 to 67, adding that business activities are fast improving in the city.
He said that 44 major operations and over 42,000 intelligence-based operations were carried out across the country as part of the operation Raddul Fasaad. He said over 32,000 arms of various calibres were recovered.