Pakistan has zero tolerance for terrorists: COAS

Gen Raheel directs security forces to continue ‘focused efforts’ until peace achieved

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan has ‘zero tolerance’ for terrorist groups, army chief General Raheel Sharif said on Wednesday as he directed security forces to continue their ‘focused efforts’ until sustainable peace and security is achieved in the country.

The statement, which Gen Raheel made while chairing a meeting of the corps commanders at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, is seen as significant against the backdrop of Saturday’s terrorist attack on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot close to the border with Pakistan.



It appears to be aimed at sending a clear message that Pakistan is not harbouring any militant group after Indian media reports claimed the six gunmen who carried out the Pathankot base attack were members of the banned Jaish-e-Muhammad militant group and had come from Multan, in south Punjab.

Pakistan has said it is working on the leads provided by the Indian government regarding the Pathankot assault that has threatened to undermine the recent rapprochement between the two countries.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday telephoned his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and assured that his government would act swiftly if the attackers were traced to Pakistan.



In its statement on Wednesday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the corps commanders reviewed the overall internal and external security, emerging geo-strategic environment and its relevance to Pakistan.

The top military commanders were briefed in detail about prevailing and emerging threats, ongoing operations of security and intelligence agencies for breaking the nexus between terrorists and their support mechanism across the country, it said.

A security official speaking on the condition of anonymity said Pakistan-India relations and efforts for reviving the Afghan peace talks were discussed in the corps commanders’ conference. The official, however, would not provide further details.



Speaking to the commanders, Gen Raheel expressed his complete satisfaction over the progress of Operation Zarb e Azb, and operational preparedness of the army. He paid rich tributes to officers and men involved in operation for their sacrifices and successes, and lauded the ‘phenomenal successes’ of security and spy agencies’ intelligence-based operations in breaking the terror nexus across the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2016.