Pakistan’s military spokesperson on Friday expressed serious concerns over what he described as the spread of an “anti-army” narrative by the jailed founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan.

Addressing a press conference in Rawalpindi, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, warned that any attempt to incite the public against the Pakistan Army would not be tolerated, as it poses a threat to national security and unity.

During the briefing, the ISPR chief also congratulated the nation on the establishment of the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) headquarters, describing it as a long-overdue and vital step toward achieving stronger coordination among Pakistan’s armed forces.

He explained that modern warfare has evolved beyond traditional land, sea, and air domains, now extending into space, cyberspace, intelligence, and information warfare.

He stressed that today’s conflicts are rapid and intense, making unified command and coordination essential for national defense.

Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry emphasized that Pakistan’s armed forces represent all regions, ethnicities, sects, and religions of the country, with a large portion of personnel coming from middle and lower-middle class backgrounds.

“Our only identity and agenda is Pakistan,” he said, adding that while constructive criticism is acceptable, personal or politically motivated attacks on the military would be firmly addressed.

He recalled past efforts that aimed to weaken national unity, including attempts to undermine the military during critical security operations.

He cautioned that any move to create divisions between the public and the armed forces would be harmful to the country’s stability and security.

The ISPR chief also pointed to the role of foreign media and coordinated social media activity in amplifying such narratives, warning against external efforts to exploit internal divisions. He urged political leaders and parties to keep the military out of political disputes and allow national institutions to function in the broader interest of the country.

Concluding his remarks, Lt Gen Chaudhry called for unity, responsibility, and restraint in public discourse, stressing that Pakistan’s security, democratic stability, and social harmony depend on mutual respect between institutions and the people they serve.