A lengthy blurb issued by the ISPR went so far as to provide a rare insight into the broad contours of 'renegotiated terms of engagement' with the Americans.
"The participants noted with regret that despite briefing the joint session of the Parliament and deferring the ultimate findings to the commission appointed by the government, some quarters, because of their perceptual biases, were trying to deliberately run down the Armed Forces, and the Army in particular," the statement said.
It cautioned that the campaign against the army would be seen as an attempt to "drive a wedge" between the military, organs of the state and the nation. "Nothing should distract them (the troops) from the job at hand (fighting terrorism)."
The twenty-odd commanders led by their chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani
... four star general, current Chief of Army Staff of the Mighty Pak Army. Kayani is the former Director General of ISI...
, who till recently was credited with having bolstered the army's image after his predecessor Gen (retd)
Pervez PervMusharraf
... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ...
's departure, sent out a clear message: "All of us should take cognizance of this unfortunate trend (of slandering the army) and put an end to it."
Another recent controversy that the blurb addressed was that of the billions of dollars in US military aid. Figures were quoted to prove that the armed forces did not get the bulk of the amount reimbursed by Washington for the expenses incurred for fighting the US-led war against militancy.
"Under the head of Coalition Support Fund (CSF), against a total sum of $13 billion expected from the US, only $8.6 billion have been received by the Government of Pakistain. The government has further made available only $1.4 billion to the Army over last ten years. A relatively smaller amount has gone to Navy and PAF as well.
"The rest, ie approximately $6 billion, have been utilised by the Government of Pakistain for budgetary support, which ultimately means the people of Pakistain."
The military, according to Rooters, also repeated its opposition to missile strike by US drones, saying "these are not acceptable under any circumstances".
The army chief also touched on the impending North
Wazoo operation, which the US has been pressuring for, saying he would accept no external pressure on its timing."The army was following a well thought-out campaign plan and is under no pressure to carry out operations at a particular time. Future operations, as and when undertaken, will be with political consensus."
But the statement hinted at a possible change of tactics for dealing with the North Waziristan problem. With Gen Kayani calling on rustics to evict foreigners, it appeared that he wanted to utilise the services of loyal tribes to force the foreigners out
instead of pitting the army against the myrmidons.
The COAS reiterated the principle of no-tolerance for terrorism: "It was wrong, in principle, to allow others to use our land for fighting their battles. This must not be allowed. Army in North Waziristan is committed to supporting the people of NWA in
this effort."