The military has no interest in engaging with political parties and should not be dragged into politics, the chief military spokesperson said in an interview on Friday, stressing that the institution consistently maintained that politics was the domain of elected representatives.

In an interview with the BBC Urdu, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry emphasised that the Pakistan Army remained focused on its professional responsibilities.

“The army has always been clear that politics is the job of politicians. Whichever party is in power represents the state at that time,” he said. “[Army’s] allegiance lies with the people of Pakistan, the country’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and their protection,” he added.

General Chaudhry said baseless rumours and assumptions were often spread against the military for political objectives. “When the Marka-e-Haq came, has the army not fulfilled its responsibilities? Has the nation ever felt the absence of the army?” he asked.

He noted that the military had acted in accordance with the directives of elected governments — both at the federal and provincial levels — on several occasions. He rejected the narrative that the people of Balochistan were distancing from the military, terming it an Indian propaganda.

“We are the people’s army. Balochistan is part of Pakistan, and there is no separation between the two — it is the crown of our nation,” he said. Chaudhry added that both federal and provincial governments were working across various sectors to improve the welfare and prosperity of the people of Balochistan.