Pakistan on path to enduring peace: COAS

We need to stay steadfast and carry forward efforts towards set national objectives, says Gen Qamar

QUETTA: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that Pakistan is on a path to enduring peace and stability after successfully tackling security challenges.

While addressing student officers and faculty of Staff Course 2018/19 at the Command and Staff College in Quetta, the army chief shared his thoughts on national security.

After having withstood challenges in the recent past Pakistan is going through an evolution process of its journey to enduring peace and stability, he said.

“The process may be difficult but on a positive trajectory. We need to stay steadfast and carry forward the efforts towards set national objectives,” he added.

Pakistan has achieved relative peace after a series of military offensives against terrorists, especially after Operation Zarb-e-Azb and subsequent Operation Radd-ul-Fassad. These operations have resulted in a marked decrease in terrorist violence notwithstanding sporadic attacks.

This consistent year-on-year drop in violence has been acknowledged by local and international think tanks. The Pakistan Institute for Peace and Studies (PIPS) has recorded a 29% decline in terrorist attacks in Pakistan in 2018 in comparison to 2017.

The army chief acknowledged and hailed contributions and performance of young officers in the counter terrorism operations as well as during recent standoff along eastern border.

He was referring to the recent hostilities with India in which Pakistan Air Force shot down two Indian warplanes in a dogfight after carrying out air strikes near military targets in Indian Occupied Kashmir on February 27 in retaliation for airspace violation by Indian fighter jets a day earlier.

The army chief also appreciated the officers for their professional pursuits to meet and prevail over future challenges of national security.

The Commander Southern Command was also present.