DG ISPR shoots down talk of civil-military divide

Pakistan Army is supporting a democratically elected government as per the constitution: Maj Gen Ghafoor

The head of the Pakistan Army's media wing has refuted claims of an alleged divide between the country's civilian and military leadership, reiterating that both sides are on the same page.

"This is baseless gossip. There is absolutely nothing of the sort," said Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor as he dismissed speculation that there was a lack of consensus between Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa.

"The army is supporting a democratically elected government as per the constitution. There will be no let-up in this [support] as it is a must for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan."



Maj Gen Ghafoor also shot down assertions that the prime minister and army chief were not communicating as often as they were in the early days of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government.

"COAS Bajwa and PM Imran have been in regular touch with each other. Meetings take place as and when required and, at times, not every meeting is covered in the news," the DG ISPR said.

"There have been meetings and telephone calls in the period between the last two meetings covered in media."

PM Imran and COAS Bajwa met on November 15 in the first such interaction between the two in recent weeks, particularly against the backdrop of a host of developments — both on the internal as well as external fronts.