COAS vows to press ahead with war on terror

Gen Qamar says militancy will be eliminated with a focused approach

ISLAMABAD: A day after formally taking charge of Pakistan Army, General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday outlined his priorities saying the defence and security of Pakistan against external and internal threats will remain his ultimate objective as chief of army staff.

In a major policy statement, the newly-appointed army chief also emphasised that the war against terrorism would continue with a ‘focused approach’ and that it would be taken to its logical conclusion.

On his first visit to field formations after taking over command of Pakistan Army, Gen Qamar visited the Corps Headquarters Peshawar and North Waziristan, said Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) in a statement giving the first insight into the new army chief’s take on a host of internal and external security challenges.

Gen Qamar formally took charge of the army at a colourful ceremony held at the Hockey Stadium in Rawalpindi on Tuesday. He assumed the charge of arguably the most powerful and challenging job at a time when Pakistan is confronted with both internal and external challenges.

Although recently retired army chief Gen Raheel Sharif is credited with turning the tide against militancy, it remains to be seen whether his successor will follow the same policy.

“War against terrorism will continue with focused approach and it will be taken to its logical conclusion till total elimination of terrorism from our soil,” Gen Qamar said while speaking to troops in North Waziristan. “We will continue to move ahead of the gains already made so far,” he added, vowing that no terrorists of any hue would ever be allowed to come back.

His statement appears to be aimed at sending a loud and clear message that Pakistan will not discriminate in its ongoing fight against terrorism.

People who know the new army chief believe that Gen Qamar will follow a more ‘proactive and decisive’ policy against terror outfits than his predecessor. Security sources said Gen Qamar was expected to make explicit and categorical statements in coming days on oft-repeated allegations against Pakistan that it was not doing enough against terror and that the country’s approach was selective.

At the same time, he will also spell out his policy on current tensions with India. In an informal interaction with reporters soon after taking the charge, Gen Qamar hinted at de-escalation of tensions along the Line of Control (LoC).

Meanwhile, the military’s media wing said the army chief was given detailed briefing at the corps headquarters about prevailing security situation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Fata and Malakand Division, ongoing stabilisation and combing operations, progress of return of TDPs and continuing development works.

At North Waziristan he was briefed by the local formation commander on the security situation in the agency, resettlement phase of TDPs and inspected reconstruction work on ground.

Paying tribute to brave tribes, officers and men of the army, FC, levies, and police, the army chief stressed the need for expediting pace of new raising of FC wings to enhance an effective Pak-Afghan border management . He said TDPs return should be completed within the stipulated time, and they should be assisted in all ways to resettle respectfully.

Earlier at Peshawar, Gen Qamar was received by Corps Commander 11 Corps Lt Gen Hidayatur Rehman who also accompanied him to North Waziristan.

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