Pakistan Army’s Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG-ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif on Sunday told the media that Islam was not just essential to the faith of individual soldiers but was also an integral part of the army’s training.
The Pakistan Army spokesperson was asked about Operation ‘Bunyanum Marsoos’, the retaliatory operation targeting Indian military bases after India launched Operation Sindoor, following the Pahalgam terror attack. A Pakistan journalist asked Lt Gen Sharif about the use of Islamic terminology in naming the operation and the reason behind the early morning attacks.
In his response, the spokesperson said that Islam was part of the Pakistan Army’s training beyond their personal beliefs. “It is part of our faith. Iman, taqwa, jihad fi sabilillah (Faith, Piety, Struggle in the name of God) that’s what drives us, that’s our motto. We have a Army chief who has faith and the leadership’s faith and commitment translates into such operations,” he said.
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The Pakistan Army’s motto was changed from Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s ‘ittehad, yaqeen, tanzeem (Unity, Faith, Discipline)’ to ‘Iman, taqwa, jihad fi sabilillah’ under Pakistani military dictator General Zia-ul-Haq’s regime. The motto which is often associated with jihadi discourse has, in the past, also been repeated by Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir.
“The name of the operation tells you that those who fight in the path of Allah are like a wall of steel. We thank Allah and the people of Pakistan and its media,” he added.
Lt Gen Sharif made headlines recently after reports claimed that his father Sultan Bashiruddin Mahmood had ties with Osama bin Laden. According to a TOI report, Mahmood was a Pakistani nuclear scientist who travelled to Afghanistan to meet bin Laden shortly before 9/11. He was also interrogated by the CIA and FBI, the report claimed.
Indian Army commander quotes Ramcharitmanas
On the other hand, Director General of Air Operations Air Marshal AK Bharti cited a couplet from the Ramcharitmanas to illustrate India’s position of “patience followed by anger”.
“Vinay na manat jaldhi jad, bhaye teen din beet, bole Ram sakop tab, bhay binu hoi na preeti,” he said, quoting Lord Ram’s words after he prayed for days to the Sea God to grant him passage to Lanka.
The couplet “bhay bin hoy na preet” translates to there is no love or respect possible without fear.
“What message is being conveyed… A hint is enough for a wise person,” Bharti remarked.
(Also read: DGMO’s Virat Kohli reference at Operation Sindoor briefing: ‘Ashes to Ashes…’)