DG ISPR presents retired Pakistani soldier alive after India claims he was killed in Kashmir
Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry says Indian account was fabricated; former SSG commando Muhammad Asif rejects allegations of involvement in cross-border terrorism
ISLAMABAD: Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Thursday presented a retired Pakistan Army soldier before the media after Indian authorities and media outlets claimed that he had been killed during an encounter in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The ISPR chief identified the man as retired Havildar Muhammad Asif, a former Special Services Group (SSG) commando, and said his presence before the media contradicted the Indian account that a militant named Mohammad Asif alias Hashim Moosa had been killed during a security operation.
Addressing a press conference, Lt Gen Chaudhry said the episode began on the night of September 29 when the Indian Corps announced on social media that a joint search operation had been launched in the Korag-Yousmarg area.
According to the Indian account cited by the DG ISPR, one terrorist was subsequently reported to have been killed.
Around seven hours later, the Indian Army reportedly issued another update claiming that the body of a Lashkar-e-Taiba militant identified as Mohammad Asif alias Hashim Moosa had been recovered from the Palmaidan area along with war-like stores.
The ISPR chief said Indian news agency ANI subsequently published a detailed profile of the alleged militant, claiming that he had been born on March 7, 1980, joined the Pakistan Army in 2000 under service number PA-3106947 and retired as a Havildar.
The report further claimed that he had joined the SSG in 2005, served with the 4 Commando Yalgar Battalion, was posted to Balochistan from 2006 and had participated in around 10 operations against Baloch insurgents. It also attributed 13 kills to him and claimed that he had served on the VVIP security team of former president Pervez Musharraf between 2006 and 2009.
Lt Gen Chaudhry said the development was reminiscent of previous Indian narratives surrounding incidents such as Uri, Pahalgam and Pulwama.
“You might be recalling Uri, Pahalgam and Pulwama — a very interesting story is being cooked, and the story is now complete,” he said, adding that evidence was available to substantiate Pakistan’s position.
He then brought Muhammad Asif before the assembled journalists.
‘I am alive and well’
Speaking at the press conference, Asif said he belonged to Tehsil Pindigheb in Attock district and was at home when he learned that Indian media outlets were reporting his death.
“Yesterday evening, I received phone calls from friends informing me that Indian media and social media platforms were reporting that the Indian Army had killed me in an encounter in Kashmir,” he said.
“I told them that I was alive and well, sitting at home, Alhamdulillah.”
Asif said he subsequently received calls from unidentified Indian numbers asking about his personal details and whether he was related to the person named in the reports.
“I repeatedly blocked those numbers. Shortly afterwards, I saw news broadcasts showing my photograph and personal military record, claiming that I had been martyred in Kashmir,” he said.
“I was utterly astonished. I was sitting at home, yet they were claiming to have killed me in Kashmir.”
Asif said he contacted his former unit leadership to clarify that he was safe and at home.
He said his former colleagues advised him to block the calls and informed him that ISPR officials would contact him to establish the facts.
According to Asif, he confirmed his identity and whereabouts when contacted by ISPR and agreed to appear publicly to clarify the matter.
He said he had joined the Pakistan Army’s Artillery Corps in 2000 and subsequently joined the SSG in 2005.
“I served with honour and dedication for 18 years before retiring in 2023,” he said, adding that he worked for three years with a private security company following his retirement.
He said he had since returned home and was running a small business.
“The allegations made by India against me and my country — claiming that I was involved in cross-border terrorism — are entirely false, fabricated and baseless,” Asif said.
“I strongly condemn these lies propagated by the Indian media.”
Holding up his identification documents, he said: “Alhamdulillah, I am alive and standing before you today. There is no doubt about my identity. I have my official CNIC and military identity documents with me.”
Asif said his military training had prepared him to confront adversaries directly and with courage.
“I have always been ready to defend my motherland, and I remain ready today. My life belongs to this nation,” he said.
DG ISPR accuses India of ‘externalising’ internal problems
Lt Gen Chaudhry also accused India of supporting militant organisations operating against Pakistan, saying Islamabad had repeatedly raised concerns over alleged Indian involvement in terrorism.
He said there were multiple reasons behind what he described as Indian “false-flag” narratives and accused New Delhi of attempting to attribute its internal problems to Pakistan.
The DG ISPR said India could not “externalise” what he described as its problems of oppression and alleged human-rights abuses in IIOJK by blaming Pakistan.
“If you have any evidence of Pakistan’s involvement in any incident, provide it,” he said, adding that Pakistan had previously offered to examine evidence through a third party.
“Please get out of this obsession with Pakistan. You have your internal issues, you have your own problems — deal with them,” he said.
The military spokesperson also criticised what he described as India’s growing emphasis on an “encounter” narrative, saying incidents were frequently presented as having Pakistani links regardless of the facts.
He said references to Pakistani personnel, including former SSG soldiers, were incorporated into such narratives.
Referring to incidents including Uri, Pathankot and Rajouri, Lt Gen Chaudhry questioned what he called the repeated reliance on encounter-based narratives.
“Gradually, you only become — from Hindustan, they have turned it into ‘Encounter-stan’,” he said.
He also questioned how senior military commanders could approve claims that, according to Pakistan, lacked factual basis.
“What has happened to this professional army?” he asked.
The DG ISPR further criticised what he described as India’s efforts to control the domestic information environment, saying that such narratives could not necessarily be imposed on international audiences.
“The world has seen through that shine,” he said.
He also accused Indian military institutions of becoming involved in political narratives, saying armed forces should not be used to advance political messaging.
Pakistan committed to Saudi defence agreement
Responding to questions about Pakistan’s defence agreement with Saudi Arabia, Lt Gen Chaudhry reiterated Islamabad’s commitment to the security of the Kingdom and the holy sites.
He said operational details of defence cooperation under the Makkah agreement were confidential and could not be disclosed publicly.
“Our commitment to the security of the Haramain Sharifain is absolute,” he said.
The DG ISPR said Pakistan was prepared to take all necessary measures to protect the holy sites and the security of Saudi Arabia.
He also stressed that Pakistan would take every necessary step to safeguard its own national security and territorial integrity.
“There will be no compromise whatsoever on Pakistan’s security and protection of its geographical borders,” he said.
The military spokesperson added that Pakistan’s armed forces remained prepared to respond to threats.
“If they want to do something, let them. We are always prepared,” he said.
DG ISPR declines political questions
Asked about Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), its planned long march and party founder Imran Khan, Lt Gen Chaudhry declined to comment on political matters.
He said political affairs were the domain of political parties and elected governments.
“Politics is for political parties. Politicians and political parties form governments,” he said.
The DG ISPR reiterated that the armed forces would not comment on political issues.
“The armed forces of Pakistan are subject to the Constitution and abide by the orders of the state,” he said.
He said Pakistan had been fighting terrorism for two decades and remained among the countries most severely affected by terrorism.
Lt Gen Chaudhry stressed that the fight against terrorism should not be compromised for political interests
“For us, the most important thing is that if there is a state, there is politics,” he said.