DG ISPR Rejects Indian Claim of Pakistani Soldier’s Death in Kashmir

ISLAMABAD: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has rejected an Indian claim that a Pakistani Army serviceman was killed in Indian-administered Kashmir, presenting the man in question before the media during a press briefing.

According to the DG ISPR, the Indian Army’s corps headquarters posted on September 29 about a joint search operation in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, claiming that a militant had been killed. Around seven and a half hours later, another update claimed that the body of a Lashkar-e-Taiba militant had been recovered and identified as Muhammad Asif Ilyas, alias Hashim Musa, allegedly a Pakistani national.

Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Indian authorities subsequently linked the reported militant to a Pakistani Army serviceman named Asif Ilyas and provided details, including a service number.

The DG ISPR then presented Muhammad Asif before the media, saying he was alive and sitting in front of the journalists.

Speaking to the media, Muhammad Asif said he had joined the Pakistan Army in 2008 and retired from the Special Service Group (SSG) in 2023. He said he later worked for a private security company and was currently living with his family in Rawalpindi.

Asif said friends began calling him after reports emerged in India claiming that he had been killed. He said he was surprised by the reports because he was at home with his family.

He added that after checking social media, he also saw the reports and subsequently received numerous calls, including calls from India. He said he blocked the numbers and informed his former officers.

“I am alive and standing before you,” Asif said, adding that he had previously served his country and remained willing to serve it in the future. He also condemned what he described as Indian propaganda against him.

The DG ISPR further said that the Indian government later issued its own statements about the alleged militant, describing him as an SSG havildar and displaying his identity card. He pointed to what he described as discrepancies between the statements issued by the Indian military and government.

Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry also questioned the timing and details of the Indian operation, saying the operation in the area had reportedly begun months earlier.

He said the incident had similarities with narratives surrounding earlier incidents such as Uri and Pahalgam, while describing the latest episode as an alleged false-flag operation.