RAWALPINDI: April 28,2023: The military’s media wing clarified on Friday that a former army chief’s “off the record” claims about Pakistan army’s “combat worthiness” were “quoted out of context” in the media.
“Recently, there have been discussions in media on Pakistan army’s combat worthiness in view of the condition of certain weapon systems on its inventory,” stated the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The military’s media wing added that the “views of former army chief on future threat to Pakistan, which he shared with media persons in an off the record interactive session, have been quoted out of the context”.
“Army assures the people of Pakistan that we always took and will continue to take pride in our operational preparedness and utmost combat worthiness,” the ISPR further added.
The statement maintained that “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.”
The ISPR’s statement comes as former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa reportedly, in an off the record interview, stated that Pakistan Army lacked weapons due to financial crunch.
It should be noted that this statement on behalf of ISPR has come out a few days after an interview given by journalist Hamid Mir to a local news channel in which he claimed that ‘Former Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa along with him 20 to 25 journalists were told that the Pakistan Army is not capable of combat defense.
Earlier this month, it was reported that incumbent Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir visited the Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT), where he was briefed on the progress of ongoing projects and the latest developments in defence production.
According to the ISPR, the army chief was briefed during his visit on the technical capabilities of the HIT, the progress of ongoing projects, indigenisation efforts, and recently undertaken modernisation measures.
The COAS also visited various factories of HIT and witnessed the manufacturing, rebuilding, and upgradation of tanks, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), enhanced protection solutions, remote weapon systems, and indigenous 155mm artillery gun barrels for the Pakistan Army.