Athar Abbas says the government continues to favor talks, but that does not mean it will rule out military action.

VOA: standard.2009.04.27

Army Spokesman Athar Abbas tells VOA that the military will deploy an unspecified number of troops if asked by the government.

VOA: standard.2009.03.14

Army spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas says that commando forces immediately surrounded the compound in an effort to secure the safe release of the hostages.

VOA: standard.2009.10.11

Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told the Associated Press on Tuesday that "no incursion is to be tolerated".

BBC: US commander holds Pakistan talks

Athar Abbas told CNN that the Pakistani military was involved in freeing Rohde.

CNN: New York Times reporter escapes Taliban

"The military feels it's in a much better position to finish the job because it has public support, " General Athar Abbas, a military spokesman, said.

WSJ: A Victory in Pakistan