Key points
- External actors, particularly Indian and Afghan media, amplify this narrative.
- Pakistan Army represents all regions, religions, sects, and political views.
- No political party can drag the military into partisan disputes.
- Attacks on army leadership will be met, even bare-handed if necessary.
- Jail meetings are weaponised to produce anti-state messaging and propaganda.
- PTI founder tried to disrupt stability via remittances, IMF, civil disobedience.
- Army shields Pakistan from India’s Hindutva and Afghan terrorist factions.
- Soldiers’ unity stronger than propaganda; sacrifices ensure national security protection.
- Army remains apolitical; national integrity is non-negotiable.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military spokesman, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, delivered on Friday one of the strongest institutional rebukes to date against Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, declaring that the anti-army narrative he pushed has “crossed the boundaries of politics” and has become a national security threat.”
Addressing a detailed press conference at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General said Pakistan is confronting a “creeping but serious national security threat emanating from the delusional mindset of one individual who has become captive to his own ego.”
Narcissism driving chaos
Lt Gen Chaudhry said the individual in question — without naming Imran Khan — had come to believe that “if I do not exist, nothing else should”.
He is a prisoner of his own narcissism. His wishes, frustrations, and ambitions have grown so dangerously that he considers them greater than the State of Pakistan. Such thinking is no longer a political problem; it has become a national security threat.
He remarked that this narrative was being amplified through collusion with external actors, particularly Indian and Afghan media networks. “Is Indian and Afghan media promoting him for free? The coordination is obvious,” he argued.
Warning against attacks
Reiterating the non-political character of the military, Lt Gen Chaudhry said: “Pakistan Army does not represent any ethnicity, language, sect, political ideology or social class. We come from all parts of Pakistan but wear one uniform only for Pakistan.”
He stressed that no political party would be allowed to drag the military into partisan disputes.
Responding sharply to sustained attacks on military leadership, he warned: “If someone, driven by ego or delusion, attacks the armed forces or its leadership, we will respond — even bare-handed if necessary.”
He questioned the motives of those attempting to create rifts between the people and their own army. Every country, he contended, has an army and, “if it’s not yours, it will be your enemy’s. So, someone who weakens his own army — is he trying to make space for another army?”
The military spokesperson criticised political actors who meet “a convict” and use those meetings to manufacture anti-state propaganda.
“Which Constitution or law allows anyone to meet a convicted prisoner and then build a narrative against Pakistan’s armed forces from inside jail?”
He added that some political groups deliberately weaponise jail meetings to produce anti-state messaging.
Lt Gen Chaudhry accused the PTI founder of systematically damaging the country’s stability by calling for a halt to remittances to Pakistan, urging the International Monetary Fund (IMF) not to grant loans, promoting civil disobedience and the refusal to pay bills, and instigating people to target the military.
“This is Delhi’s narrative. Indian media becomes his biggest amplifier within minutes. Afghan media follows the same line. Why?”
He said that these people instigate attacks on their own army, including the GHQ attack, orchestrated by the same individual.
He said that even regarding the Chief of Defence Forces issue, they stirred propaganda, and it is unclear where such thoughts originate in their mind. Indian media even reported that the PTI founder had died. Those who spewed venom against Pakistan on May 9 and 10 are still pushing the same narrative today. The enemy propagates this narrative because it benefits them.
Politics of attacks
The ISPR head highlighted that the army stands as Pakistan’s shield against India’s Hindutva ideology as well as the Khawarij (Indian backed terrorists) operating from Afghanistan.
He said those advocating “talks” with extremists were misleading the public.
Will Kabul or Delhi guarantee Pakistan’s security? Security does not come from begging — it comes from sacrifice. Our soldiers die every day for this country.
Calling the anti-army rhetoric a “business of lies and deception”, he said the time for such narratives had ended.
“This individual’s entire politics revolves around attacking the army. He claimed the army could not fight — yet the same army defeated a military eight times larger.”
Lt Gen Chaudhry asserted that the bond between soldiers and officers was stronger than any propaganda. “They fight together, die together, and live together. No one can drive a wedge between them.”
The DG ISPR also confirmed the establishment of the new Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Headquarters, describing it as long overdue and crucial for modern, multi-domain warfare.
Lt Gen Chaudhry closed the press conference by reiterating that the army has no role in politics, respects all parties, and will remain apolitical; that no political or personal agenda will be allowed to target the armed forces; and that any narrative undermining national security will face firm action.
“Pakistan’s integrity is non-negotiable. The army is not going anywhere. We took an oath to protect the state, and we will fulfil that responsibility — always.”
