Need to consolidate military gains for long-term stability: Gen Raheel

Army chief chairs Corps Commanders conference at the GHQ in Rawalpindi

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif has stressed the need to consolidate gains achieved during operation Zarb-e-Azb in the north-west region for long-term peace and stability in the country.

Corps Comd Conf:COAS emphasised,as we move towards conclusion of large scale kinetic ops in FATA,there is need to look ahead-1

— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) March 14, 2016

The army chief made these remarks while chairing a Corps Commanders conference at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Monday.

“The army chief stressed increasing the pace of intelligence-based operations across the country to eliminate the entire terrorism infrastructure in Pakistan,” the ISPR said in a statement.

&consolidate gains 4 long term stability.Stressed escalated pace of IBOs across country 2 eliminate entire terrorism infrastructure in Pak-2

— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) March 14, 2016

The COAS underlined the need of effective border management and continued dominance of cleared areas to maintain writ of the state.

He also reiterated that the return of temporarily displaced persons (TDPs) must be completed as per the given timeline.

Directed more eff bdr mgmt,continued dominance of cleared areas 2 maintain writ of state.TDPs return must complete per laid down time line-3

— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) March 14, 2016

Earlier, the forum dwelt at length on internal and external security situation and other professional matters of the military as participants of the conference took holistic view of the emerging geo-strategic environment and its relevance to security of the country.

Meanwhile, the army chief while paying tribute to the sacrifices of army personnel and security agencies in Zarb-e-Azb, expressed satisfaction over the progress of the continuing operation in Shawal and adjoining areas in North Waziristan.