DG ISPR warns of ‘very severe’ response to any future Indian ‘strategic folly’

During a press conference on October 1, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, issued a stern warning to India, stating that any future "strategic folly" would be met with a severe response.

"This time we will not leave them so easily. This time the cost that Pakistan will inflict on their strategic folly will be very, very severe. The retribution will be very harsh," he stated. "But they are most welcome. If they think that they can want to build this drama any other drama and on the basis of that they want to do it, they can try their luck."

The DG ISPR's comments came during a briefing where he refuted Indian claims of killing a former Pakistani soldier by presenting the man alive to the media.

During the press conference on October 1, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, provided a timeline of what he termed a "false flag" operation by India. He stated that on September 29, India's Chinar Corps announced via a tweet that a joint operation was conducted in the Yusmarg area of Indian-Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The Indian military initially claimed to have killed an unidentified militant, who was later identified as Mohammad Asif alias Hashem Musa and linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba.

The man identified by India, Mohammad Asif, a retired Havildar from the Special Services Group (SSG), spoke to the media at the press conference. He stated that he retired from the army in 2023 and currently works for a security company in Rawalpindi. Asif, a resident of Pindigheb in Attock district, said he learned of his supposed "martyrdom" through phone calls from friends and condemned the Indian claim as a "baseless and fabricated allegation."

Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, refuted Indian media claims of killing a former Pakistani soldier by presenting the man alive during a press conference on October 1.

The military spokesperson addressed reports from Indian outlets that claimed Mohammad Asif, also known as Hashim Moosa, a retired Havildar of the Special Services Group (SSG), was killed in an encounter in Indian-Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on September 29. Indian media had alleged Asif was involved in terrorist activities.

During the briefing, Lt Gen Chaudhry detailed what he called another Indian "false-flag operation." He then surprised journalists by inviting Mohammad Asif to the podium. Asif, a resident of Attock's Pindi Gheb, confirmed he was alive and in Pakistan. He stated he learned of his supposed "martyrdom" through social media and phone calls from concerned friends and relatives.

The DG ISPR presented a timeline showing Indian forces first announced killing an unidentified militant, then identified him as Asif, and later claimed he was an ex-SSG soldier, even circulating a service number. Lt Gen Chaudhry condemned the Indian narrative as baseless propaganda.

The upcoming press conference by Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, is set against a backdrop of heightened security operations on the western border. According to reports, the briefing follows recent Pakistan Army strikes against alleged militant hideouts inside Afghanistan.

The strikes, reportedly part of 'Operation Ghazab lil Haq', are said to have killed 22 militants. The targets were described as safe havens associated with groups identified as Fitna al-Khawarij, Fitna al-Hindustan, and their affiliates.