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

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

Key points

• News Desk Published October 1, 2026 Updated October 1, 2026 10: 00pm.
• As he displayed the screengrabs of these outlets' reports on the matter, "So there comes News18, Statesman, India Today, Hindustan Times, ABP Live, Indian Express, " he remarked.
• Sharing details regarding himself, Asif stated that he joined the Pakistan Army in the year 2000.
• India's home affairs ministry remarked the neutralisation of "Musa alias Asif Fauji" was part of an "ongoing long-sustained Operation Sheruwali" that was rolled out in May.
• The DG ISPR continued that India's home affairs ministry and Press Information Bureau additionally reiterated the narrative.

News Desk Published October 1, 2026 Updated October 1, 2026 10: 00pm. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

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.

Meanwhile, the press briefing came after Indian media documented 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.

Addressing the media, the DG ISPR remarked 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.

In practice, the DG ISPR then referred to another post by Chinar Corps on Sept 30 morning that asserted the Indian forces had identified the body of a "Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist".

According to The military spokesperson, afterwards, India's ANI news outlet asserted that the deceased had been identified as Mohammad Asif, who had been inducted into the Special Services Group (SSG).

Notably, the DG ISPR continued that India's home affairs ministry and Press Information Bureau additionally reiterated the narrative.

"After six months of hard work, Musa alias Asif Fauji has been neutralised. Congratulations, applause, " Lt Gen Chaudhry retorted.

He then read out India's claims of Asif's so-called involvement in various attacks: "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."

According to The DG ISPR then, the Indian administration additionally maintained to have neutralised three other "members of the group".

"After this, the shameful characters will have at least the shame to delete this, " he remarked.

Meanwhile, the DG ISPR out the Indian PIB's narrative. It remarked their forces had killed "four senior LeT commanders".

He took a jibe at Indian media too for highlighting the claims: Now they remarked, 'Let's jump in'.

Meanwhile, the DG ISPR then called Asif to join him during the presser. This person remarked he was a resident of Attock district.

"So here is that superman. You can see this superman. Please, come, my brother. Tell us regarding these achievements of yours, what all you have been doing, " Lt Gen Chaudhry quipped. 'Here, alive and healthy'.

Speaking before the media, Asif narrated: Yesterday, some friends called me and informed 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 remarked he additionally received calls from Indian numbers, asking him for his personal information, identity, 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 remarked.

"I was surprised by whatever was happening as I was sitting in my home, " he remarked.

After the reports, Asif stated that he informed his unit regarding the reports to clarify his position, and the unit asked him to block all the numbers calling from India and remarked that ISPR authorities would contact him.

Sharing details regarding himself, Asif stated that he joined the Pakistan Army in the year 2000. "In 2005, I joined the SSG, performed my duty with courage for 18 years, and retired in 2023."

Asif continued that he had additionally worked for a private security firm for three years. "For the past three or four months, I have been living with my family in our home in Rawalpindi." He termed the Indian allegations as "false, ignominious and disreputable".

"I condemn this. By the grace of God, I am alive and present before you."

He further affirmed that he performed his duties with courage and that Pakistan responds face to face, not from behind. 'Six reasons behind such dramas'.

Taking on the mic, the DG ISPR maintained that there were "six reasons" behind "such dramas" by India against Pakistan.

"It is a particularly shameful and embarrassing thing. No self-respecting nation does this." 'Cover own track of terrorism'.

Explaining the first reason, Lt Gen Chaudhry remarked that India did those theatrics to "cover its own track of terrorism". "So, there has to be some good reason, " he continued.

"India is the biggest sponsor of terrorism and a terrorist state in the world, " the DG ISPR declared.

"And its implication, involvement, direct and indirect terrorism in the region goes back decades, " he continued.

"Whether it's Mukti Bahini or LTT, and now the TTP, BLA, and their funding, sponsorship and planning. It (India) has now become a victim of its own trait."

For context, the military spokesperson highlighted that this terrorism was additionally "now taking on an internal dimension".

He elaborated: They are not just terrorising the region or countries around the region; they are terrorising the Muslims inside India, and additionally the Kashmiris, Sikhs, Dalits, Christians, Manipur, and tribals.

"Some country which lives and breathes terrorism is meanwhile particularly afraid that their dark face will be exposed, so they have to cover their tracks. What better way to cover their tracks than to start calling everyone else a terrorist?"

Lt Gen Chaudhry then played a video clip on the "decades of lies that they have been feeding to their own people as well as to the world at large".

Taken together, the developments around 'Why the need for all this drama': DG ISPR lampoons India' s ' neutralised point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.