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ISLAMABAD: Army Chief General Asim Munir on Friday observed that unrestricted freedom of speech was leading to the degradation of moral values in all societies.
In wide-ranging remarks at the Margalla Dialogue, hosted by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute, subjects such as Indiaâs Hindutva ideology, occupied Kashmir, Pakistanâs role in peacekeeping missions, terrorism from Afghan soil, border management, freedom of speech, false information, etc all came up.
The army chief reaffirmed Pakistanâs commitment to remaining neutral in international conflicts and staying away from bloc politics while continuing its role in fostering global peace and stability.
Addressing the growing issue of fake news, he said, âWhile technology has played a pivotal role in the dissemination of information, the spread of misleading and incorrect information has become a significant challenge.â
âWithout comprehensive laws and regulations, false and misleading information, along with hate speech, will continue to destabilise political and social structures,â Gen Munir stated, advocating for stricter regulation of social media and a reduction in online freedoms.
Interestingly, the session featuring Gen Munirâs remarks was held a day after the two-day conference officially concluded.
The audience comprised members of the diplomatic community, serving military officials, and representatives from Islamabad-based think tanks.
Non-alignment policy
The event served as a platform for the army chief to reiterate Pakistanâs long-standing policy of non-alignment, as he said, âWe will not become part of any global conflict but will continue to play our role for peace and stability in the world.â
Pakistanâs policy of avoiding bloc politics has been a consistent part of its foreign policy. However, the timing of this renewed emphasis is significant, coinciding with Washingtonâs preparations for a transition following Donald Trumpâs victory in the US presidential election.
The escalating rivalry between the US and China remains the defining global competition of the current era, with profound implications for international alliances, economic systems, and strategic stability. This high-stakes contest is shaping the future of global governance and international order.
Gen Munirâs message was apparently addressed to both Washington and Beijing, emphasising Pakistanâs commitment to peace and neutrality.
However, notably absent from the publicly shared details of his speech was any mention of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
The army chief focused instead on Pakistanâs broader contributions to global peace and stability. He highlighted Pakistanâs significant role in the UN peacekeeping missions, noting that 235,000 Pakistanis have served in these missions, with 181 making the ultimate sacrifice.
In a pointed message to the West, particularly the United States, the army chief underscored that the extremist ideology espoused by Indiaâs ruling junta is not only a threat to Pakistan but also poses risks to Indian-origin citizens in America, the UK, and Canada.
While speaking about Indiaâs ongoing atrocities in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Gen Munir described these actions as an extension of the Hindutva ideology.
âThe resolution of the Kashmir dispute, in accordance with United Nations resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, is inevitable,â he asserted.
Addressing the terrorism threat from Afghanistan, Gen Munir emphasised Pakistanâs expectation that the Taliban administration would prevent the use of Afghan territory for terrorist activities and take stringent measures to curb such threats.
âA comprehensive border management regime has been established to secure our western borders,â he stated, highlighting Pakistanâs efforts to prevent unauthorised cross-border movement.
He also warned about the potential for the banned TTP to evolve into a threat beyond Pakistanâs borders.
Referring to the proscribed group as Fitna al-Khawarij, he pointed out its connections to several international terrorist organisations and proxies.
In wide-ranging remarks at the Margalla Dialogue, hosted by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute, subjects such as Indiaâs Hindutva ideology, occupied Kashmir, Pakistanâs role in peacekeeping missions, terrorism from Afghan soil, border management, freedom of speech, false information, etc all came up.
The army chief reaffirmed Pakistanâs commitment to remaining neutral in international conflicts and staying away from bloc politics while continuing its role in fostering global peace and stability.
Addressing the growing issue of fake news, he said, âWhile technology has played a pivotal role in the dissemination of information, the spread of misleading and incorrect information has become a significant challenge.â
âWithout comprehensive laws and regulations, false and misleading information, along with hate speech, will continue to destabilise political and social structures,â Gen Munir stated, advocating for stricter regulation of social media and a reduction in online freedoms.
Interestingly, the session featuring Gen Munirâs remarks was held a day after the two-day conference officially concluded.
The audience comprised members of the diplomatic community, serving military officials, and representatives from Islamabad-based think tanks.
Non-alignment policy
The event served as a platform for the army chief to reiterate Pakistanâs long-standing policy of non-alignment, as he said, âWe will not become part of any global conflict but will continue to play our role for peace and stability in the world.â
Pakistanâs policy of avoiding bloc politics has been a consistent part of its foreign policy. However, the timing of this renewed emphasis is significant, coinciding with Washingtonâs preparations for a transition following Donald Trumpâs victory in the US presidential election.
The escalating rivalry between the US and China remains the defining global competition of the current era, with profound implications for international alliances, economic systems, and strategic stability. This high-stakes contest is shaping the future of global governance and international order.
Gen Munirâs message was apparently addressed to both Washington and Beijing, emphasising Pakistanâs commitment to peace and neutrality.
However, notably absent from the publicly shared details of his speech was any mention of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
The army chief focused instead on Pakistanâs broader contributions to global peace and stability. He highlighted Pakistanâs significant role in the UN peacekeeping missions, noting that 235,000 Pakistanis have served in these missions, with 181 making the ultimate sacrifice.
In a pointed message to the West, particularly the United States, the army chief underscored that the extremist ideology espoused by Indiaâs ruling junta is not only a threat to Pakistan but also poses risks to Indian-origin citizens in America, the UK, and Canada.
While speaking about Indiaâs ongoing atrocities in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, Gen Munir described these actions as an extension of the Hindutva ideology.
âThe resolution of the Kashmir dispute, in accordance with United Nations resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, is inevitable,â he asserted.
Addressing the terrorism threat from Afghanistan, Gen Munir emphasised Pakistanâs expectation that the Taliban administration would prevent the use of Afghan territory for terrorist activities and take stringent measures to curb such threats.
âA comprehensive border management regime has been established to secure our western borders,â he stated, highlighting Pakistanâs efforts to prevent unauthorised cross-border movement.
He also warned about the potential for the banned TTP to evolve into a threat beyond Pakistanâs borders.
Referring to the proscribed group as Fitna al-Khawarij, he pointed out its connections to several international terrorist organisations and proxies.
