‘Why the need for all this drama’: DG ISPR lampoons India's 'neutralised Pakistani terrorist' claims, presents him before media

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry lampooned India’s claims of “neutralising” a “terrorist” allegedly linked to the Pakistani military, presenting the individual during a press conference on Thursday. The press conference comes after Indian media reported that an individual wanted in connection with the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack last year had been killed during an “encounter” in Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir’s Korag area. Addressing the media, the DG ISPR said he would talk “about a so-called terrorist incident, a false flag that has been staged by the Indian political military”. He presented a five-point timeline, showing that the whole scenario began on Sept 29. “On the night of Sep 29, the Indian corps deployed in IIOK made a tweet, claiming that, based on joint intelligence reports, the Indian Army, police and CRPF launched an operation in general area of Korag, Yousmarg,” he read from a social media post by Chinar Corps. The DG ISPR then referred to another post by Chinar Corps on Sept 20 morning that claimed the Indian forces had found the body of a “Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist”. The military spokesperson noted that later, India’s ANI news outlet claimed that the deceased had been identified as Mohammad Asif, who had been inducted into the Special Services Group (SSG). The DG ISPR went on to say that India’s home affairs ministry and Press Information Bureau also reiterated the supposed details. India’s home affairs ministry said the neutralisation of “Musa alias Asif Fauji” was part of an “ongoing long-sustained Operation Sheruwali” that was launched in May. “After six months of hard work, Musa alias Asif Fauji has been neutralised. Congratulations, applause,” Lt Gen Chaudhry quipped sarcastically. He then read out India’s claims of Asif’s alleged involvement in various attacks, including Halan attack August 23, DKG attack December 23, Kandi attack May 2023, Shah Sitar attack May 2024, Shiv Khori a