Army ready to meet all expectations: Gen Raheel

Army chief says unflinching faith of nation on armed forces ‘real asset’

ISLAMABAD:

General Raheel Sharif has said the faith of the entire Pakistani nation on its armed forces is their real asset and they will always come up to the country’s expectations.

The army chief made these remarks while addressing the concluding ceremony of Pakistan Army Team Spirit Competition at a training area near Pabbi on Monday. The event was held in the mountainous terrain near Mangla from March 31 to April 4, according to a statement issued by the military’s media wing – the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).



Speaking at the concluding ceremony, Gen Raheel while highlighting the importance of physical fitness and spirit of team work, said the soldiers had to be in the best physical and mental conditions to meet multifarious challenges in diverse terrains.

“Add to this the spirit of sacrifice and patriotism, it makes us the most formidable force in the face of any adversity,” the ISPR statement quoted the army chief.

Gen Raheel said the unflinching faith of the entire nation “on our armed forces is our real asset and we will Inshallah always come up to the expectations of our nation”.

The military’s media wing said the Team Spirit Competition was aimed at testing survival skills and physical endurance spread over 72 hours that included 23 field events. Intense sets of physical activities in the shortest time are meant to test the physical fitness of the participants.



Apart from a team from all the Pakistan Army corps, Sri Lankan Army Team also participated in the competition while 16 officers from six countries, including China, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan and Maldives, also came to attend the competition as observers.

The army chief also awarded medals and prizes to the winners. The Mangla Corps team won the gold medal after winning the championship while the Southern Command and the Sri Lankan contingent shared the silver medal. Gen Raheel especially thanked all foreign guests and Sri Lankan troops for being part of the event and showing their prowess.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 5^th, 2016.