Despite internal challenges, army prepared to avert 'threat from east': Gen Qamar

Chief of army staff visits Siachen, addresses troops at Goma and Gilgit areas: ISPR

Hours after a bomb blast in Lahore which killed at least eight people, army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that despite internal security threats, Pakistan Army is fully prepared for effective response against “perpetual threat from the East”.

An apparent reference to the neighbouring India, the COAS made these remarks while talking to troops at Goma and Gilgit on Thursday, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR),

#COAS visited Siachin."Despite facing internal security challenges, we are fully prep for effective response to perpetual threat from East". pic.twitter.com/3cssZL3Kzr

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) February 23, 2017

"We all are proud to be soldiers of Pakistan and defending it irrespective of terrain or weather difficulties."

He also visited Siachen, where he laid floral wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada of Gyari. “We owe our independence to sacrifices of our Shuhada. Nothing is nobler than laying one’s life in defence of the motherland,” the army chief was quoted as saying.

Visit to Siachin."We owe our independence to sacrifices of Shuhadas. Nothing is nobler than laying one's life in defence of the motherland". pic.twitter.com/oSEWDymyoG

— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) February 23, 2017

Later, the army chief also interacted with notables of Gilgit-Baltistan. “The COAS assured them that army was extending full support to all initiatives aimed at ensuring the rights of G-B as part of the federation,” the military’s media wing said.

Pakistan has been hit by a series of suicide bomb attacks in recent days, claiming more than 100 lives.

At least 88 people were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine in Sindh’s Sehwan town last week. In response, Pakistan Army launched on Wednesday  a countrywide security operation codenamed Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad.