Military closely monitoring regional developments: army chief

General Raheel Sharif chairs Corps Commanders' meeting

Army chief General Raheel Sharif said on Monday that the military was fully cognisant of the current regional situation and its impact on national security.

The army chief's comments came in the wake of vitriolic statements emanating from India after the Uri attack. “We are fully cognisant and closely watching latest happenings in the region and their impact on the security of Pakistan,” Sharif said while addressing a Corps Commanders’ Conference at the GHQ in Rawalpindi.

 

Army chief General Raheel Sharif presiding over a Corps Commanders' Conference at GHQ in Rawalpindi on Monday September 19, 2016. PHOTO: ISPR

Sharif expressed complete satisfaction over the operational readiness of the Pakistan Army and said: “The armed forces of Pakistan are fully prepared to respond to the entire spectrum of direct and indirect threats.”



According to a statement issued by the military’s media wing, the external and internal security situation and operational preparedness of the army were comprehensively reviewed on the occasion. “Pakistan’s armed forces together with our resilient nation have surmounted every challenge and will thwart any sinister design against the integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan in future as well,” the statement quoted the army chief as saying.

Praising the steady progress of Zarb-i-Azb, the general paid glowing tributes to military and security personnel who have been rendering great sacrifices in the war against terrorism.

The army chief's remarks came hours after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s senior aide Sartaj Aziz said the attack on an Indian military base in Kashmir was a blatant attempt on New Delhi’s part to deflect attention from the pressing situation in Indian-held Kashmir. Rejecting Indian claims of Pakistan’s involvement in Sunday’s attack as "baseless" and "irresponsible", Aziz said, “It is a blatant attempt on India’s part to deflect attention from the fast deteriorating humanitarian and human rights situation in Indian-held Kashmir since the death of Burhan Wani.”



Taking a jibe at the Indian government, Aziz further said that it was particularly deplorable that India chose to blame Pakistan for the incident before carrying out a formal investigation. “The statement is part of a pattern to mislead world opinion and cover up India’s reign of terror in IoK,” he said.