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

AI Summary

Pakistan’s military spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry disputed Indian reports that a wanted militant had been killed in Kashmir, presenting Mohammad Asif at a press conference as alive. He alleged the Indian claims were part of a false-flag operation, while Asif said he had received calls asking about his identity and whereabouts.

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. The military spokesperson began his media briefing by stating that he would provide details about “another false-flag” operation by India. Addressing the media, 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 Indian Home Affairs and Press Information Bureau also reiterated the supposed details. The Indian PIB 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 attack June 2024, Gagangeer attack October 2024, Boota Pahari attack October 2024, and Basira attack April 2025. The DG ISPR then noted that the Indian government also claimed to have neutralised three other “members of the group”. “After this [press conference], the shameful characters will have at least the shame to delete this,” he remarked. The DG ISPR then called Asif to join him during the presser, who said he was a resident of Attock district. He narrated: “Yesterday, some friends called me and told me there were reports on social media that I had been martyred by the Indian army in Kashmir. “To their concerns, I responded that I was here, alive and healthy.” Asif said he also received calls from the Indian numbers, asking him for his personal information, identity and whereabouts and his connection with the claims. “Through ANI on social media, I became aware of the reports that Indian media, using my personal data, had named me as a martyr in an operation in Kashmir,” Asif said. Indian claims Indian media had claimed that the supposedly slain individual was affiliated with the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and a soldier of the Pakistan military. The claim, attributed to “sources”, named the individual as Mohammad Asif. It may be recalled that Indian media and authorities have made several allegations regarding Pakistani involvement in the April Pahalgam incident in the past, but failed to substantiate them. The Pakistan government and security forces have yet to respond to this most recent allegation. “Mohammad Asif alias Hashim Moosa was born on 07 March 1980. He joined the Pakistan Army in 2000 under service number PA-3106947 and retired with the rank of Havildar,” India’s Asian News International (ANI) reported on Thursday. It also provided a detailed profile of the slain man. “In 2005, Mohammad Asif was inducted into the Special Services Group (SSG). He served with 4 Commando ‘Yalgar’ Battalion and was posted to Balochistan from 2006 onward. During his deployment in Balochistan, he reportedly participated in approximately 10 operations against Baloch insurgents and is credited with 13 personal kills,” the ANI news report stated, adding that Asif was also part of the security detail of former president Pervez Musharraf. It was stated by ANI that Asif was “wanted in the Pahalgam terror attack”, and the claim was repeated by the Indian Army’s Chinar Corps — part of the Northern Command and headquartered in occupied Kashmir. The corps primary area of responsibility is the Kashmir area of operations. In May 2025, a four-day conflict between Pakistan and India was sparked by an attack on tourists in occupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam, which New Delhi, without evidence, linked to Pakistan. Islamabad had strongly denied responsibility while calling for a neutral investigation. Aft