Pakistan won’t be coerced by malicious propaganda: COAS

Army chief encourages commanders to maintain combat readiness

LAHORE: Army chief General Raheel Sharif on Friday said no amount of malicious propaganda will coerce Pakistan. He made the remark while visiting the newly established Combat Reaction Training Facility near the Lahore Garrison.

“The highest state of vigil is being maintained at the Line of Control, Working Boundary and everywhere along the international border. The enemy will be given the most befitting response from Pakistan in case of any misadventure,” a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) quoted Gen Raheel as saying. “Pakistan can’t be coerced through any amount of malicious propaganda.”

While expressing satisfaction over the operational preparedness of the army, Gen Raheel said that training in peacetime is the only guarantor of averting and winning wars. He talked to the troops and encouraged commanders to maintain combat readiness.

Instructors at the Combat Reaction Training Facility also briefed the army chief on the purpose-built environment and obstacles meant to impart module-based all arms training to mechanised troops.

Gen Raheel also inaugurated the newly established Junior Campus of Garrison Academy Lahore and attended their first school assembly. According to ISPR, it was a special moment for the army chief to visit the premises of the school as he himself was a student there 44 years ago.

A large number of students, faculty members and Lahore Garrison Education System Staff were present on the occasion. Gen Raheel was accompanied by Commander Lahore Corps Lieutenant General Sadiq Ali. 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2016.