"We all must join hands to move forward towards peace and stability," the army chief said. PHOTO: EXPRESS/FILE
ISLAMABAD: Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday questioned the motive of the ongoing protest campaign in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, saying just days after peace and stability returned to the tribal areas, some people launched a movement to disrupt normalcy there.
“Some internal and external elements are hell-bent upon harming Pakistan’s national security. But I want to tell them that the armed forces with the support of the people of Pakistan will not let their ulterior motives to succeed,” Gen Qamar added.
He made the remarks while speaking at an investiture ceremony held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi to confer military awards upon army personnel for their sacrifices and acts of gallantry in defending the motherland.
The army chief said peace and stability had been restored in the country as a result of the sacrifices rendered by martyrs and ghazis.
GHQ Investiture Ceremony, 12 April 2018 https://t.co/X8LtBviMFk
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) April 12, 2018
Paying rich tribute to the martyrs, he said that no medal or worldly benefit could substitute the sacrifice of martyrs.
He, however, said people have short memories and asked them not to forget their “real heroes and their sacrifices”.
“Those nations which forget their heroes will eventually disappear,” he insisted.
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General Bajwa said no power on earth could cast an evil eye on Pakistan till valiant mothers and daughters of this great nation continue sending their sons and brothers to defend the motherland.
He said Pakistan had successfully defeated the menace of terrorism.
The army chief said Pakistan has come out of difficult times and “good days are now around the corner”.
Martyrs' awards were received by their family members. Heirs of martyrs and senior military officers were also present on the occasion.
Sitara-e-Imtiaz Military was conferred upon 32 officers, Tamgha-e-Jurrat on two officers, Tamgha-e-Baslat on 33 officers and soldiers. Four officers and soldiers were given UN medal.
Meanwhile, the army chief cautioned against anti-state agenda under the garb of protests in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).
He made the remarks while meeting notables of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) -- including senators, parliamentarians and academia in Peshawar.
“We’ve passed through a turbulent time in the war on terror as a nation but there is much that needs to be done,” Gen Qamar said.
The COAS lauded the courage and resilience of the people of Fata and K-P as they have been one of the major victims in the war against terrorism.
“We [Pakistan Army] fully support the socio-economic development in areas that had been under the grip of terrorist elements,” he added.
“We all must join hands to move forward towards peace and stability,” the army chief said.
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He said that steps have been taken to facilitate the general public at check posts without compromising security.
He added that clearance of unexploded ordnance were already under way to complete kinetic operations.
“No one wants peace and stability in the region more than the security forces,” he said.
“There is still a threat from neighbouring Afghanistan with these elements morphing into refugees,” he said.
He said that the armed forces would not allow the gains achieved at the high cost of blood and national exchequer being reversed.
“The security of innocent citizens and that of the motherland comes first and the foremost,” he added.
He reiterated that long term dividend of peace is linked with early mainstreaming of Fata.
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