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MUMBAI: Pakistan army has denied that it endorses militant attacks against India but it has also admitted that it does maintain contacts with these militant organisations.
Pakistan army spokesperson and DG, Intelligence Services Public Relations, Major General Atahr Abbas speaks exclusively to NewsX on the issue.
On being asked about ISI‘s involvement with the militant organisations, Major General Athar Abbas retorts :
"Absolutely not. Nothing can be farther from the truth, involvement of ISI in this. This was a group which was on its own. The case is in the court and the Interior Ministry of the govt is dealing with the case. Military or the ISI has nothing to do whatsoever with this case."
Commenting on the public statement made by Admiral Mike Mullen on ISI‘s connection with the militants, he remarks
"This would fall in the category of diplomatic affairs, I would not like to comment on Admiral Mullen‘s statement but there is absolutely no truth in any of this assertion that there are connections or support, but remember that the way the intelligence world operates, it maintains the contacts. Why go into the recent past. If you stretch beyond that everybody had connections with these groups. The whole west was operating through these groups & areas. So contact or connection does not mean that you endorse what they are doing or you are supporting or protecting them. Nothing of this is as far as I know, close to the truth."
On being asked about David Headley‘s naming of two ISI officers during his interrogations by the Indian Authorities, Major Athar Abbas says:
"One that when a retired officer goes from the Army he is on his own. He names a retired officer there. So far it has not been established. I wont get into a debate on this because the case is still in the court and the court will be dealing with the matter."
Dwelling on the reports of the presence of Chinese Troops in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, he comments :
"If you are referring to the story in New York times, again I would say it is completely baseless & concocted. None of our papers or media has ever reported on the troops presence. The northern areas are open to anyone even foreigners. People can go and visit and see if there are Chinese troops or not. Its absolutely baseless. There is no truth in it, there are no Chinese troops in our northern areas."
