Inter-Services Public Relations
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) (Urdu: بین الخدماتی تعلقات عامہ), is the media and public relations wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces. It broadcasts and coordinates military news and information to the country's civilian media and the civic society.[1]
This article is about the Pakistani military media directorate. For the Bangladeshi directorate, see Inter-Services Public Relations (Bangladesh).
The ISPR directorate serves the purpose of aiming to strengthen public relations with the civic society, and civil society through interacting with the media.[1] The directorate also works as the principle voice of the Pakistan's military, with its director-general serving as the official spokesperson of the armed forces.[1]
In 2023, ISPR launched its own entertainment channel called Green Entertainment.[2]
Overview[edit]
The Directorate of the Inter–Services Public Relations (ISPR) was established in 1949 with army colonel Shahbaz Khan becoming its first director-general.[1] The ISPR operates as a unified public relations system for the Pakistan Armed Forces, which includes army, air force, navy, and marines.[1] The ISPR manages the public relations requirement of the armed forces, and is staffed with the combined personnel of the military along with civilian officers.[1] It plays an important role for gathering a national support for the armed forces at the public level.[1] The ISPR also aims to strengthen support for the military's assigned contingency operations while undermining the perceived stature of the adversary.[1]
In views of US army colonel John Adache, the ISPR interfaces between the armed forces, civil media, and the civic society.[1] Furthermore, the ISPR also formulates the media policy of the unified armed forces, and aims to safeguard the military interests of the armed forces from negative sentiment. The ISPR also monitors international and domestic media, surveying the nature of international reporting regarding Pakistan's military issues.[1]
On a regular basis, the ISPR broadcasts televised news regarding the strategic operations in foreign and domestic areas. In Pakistan's military staff appointments and assignments, the ISPR is often perceived as one of the most prestigious directorates of Pakistan Armed Forces.[1]
Its executive authority, a director-general, is a chief military spokesperson of the Pakistan Armed Forces.
Operations[edit]
ISPR is responsible for garnering national support for the armed forces as well as strengthening their resolve to accomplish the assigned mission while undermining the will of the adversary.
It also acts as an interface between the armed forces, the media and the public.[3] It formulates much of the media policy of Pakistan's military, safeguards the armed forces from negative influences and monitors both international and domestic media.
Principal media network[edit]
On regular basis, the ISPR release televised press releases on the ongoing military exercises, and notifies the civilian media about the ingenious strategic arsenal testings.[4][5]
Apart from functioning as the public relations body of the armed forces, the ISPR handles exclusive dissemination of information regarding Pakistan's ongoing military contingency operations.[3]
Controversies[edit]
According to journalist Talat Hussain. there are allegations that ISPR restricted press freedom within the country. It's claimed that ISPR has instructed national media to censor certain figures or events and even shutting down transmission channels.[8]
The ISPR has been accused of exerting influence over media channels during the 2024 Pakistani general election to censor the portrayal of Imran Khan.[9]