Army brass reviews border management amid ‘evolving geo-strategic milieu’

Gen Qamar emphasises maintaining high standards of operational preparedness along LoC and Pak-Afghan border, says ISPR

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa has laid special emphasis on maintaining high standards of operational preparedness along the Line of Control (LoC) and Pak-Afghan border amid “evolving geo-strategic milieu”.

The development comes after a two-day-long 78th Formation Commanders’ Conference held at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi with Gen Qamar in chair and attended by corps commanders, principal staff officers and all formation commanders of Pakistan Army, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Tuesday.

Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa presided over two-day-long 78th Formation Commanders’ Conference at GHQ, which was attended by Corps Commanders, Principal Staff Officers and all Formation Commanders of Pakistan Army, says #ISPR pic.twitter.com/j0KZkRM1eI

— The Express Tribune (@etribune) June 15, 2021

“Participants were briefed on the prevalent geostrategic environment, challenges to national security and own strategy in response to the evolving threat. Participants held detailed discussion on a host of professional matters,” the statement said.

The forum was also briefed on the cutting edge technologies being harnessed to modernise army’s outfits besides up-gradation of logistics infrastructure corresponding to emerging operational imperatives.

The army chief expressed satisfaction over the progress of the stabilisation operations across Pakistan following the successes of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, the ISPR also said.

“The forum paid rich tribute to the resilient nation particularly the people of tribal areas for their supreme sacrifices in the war against terrorism,” it added.

The army’s top brass also reviewed progress on transition and uplift of the newly-merged districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and socio-economic development in Balochistan “as a dividend of hard-earned peace and stability”.

Reviewing the prevailing situation on the eastern border and the latest developments in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), the forum expressed complete solidarity with the Kashmiri people in their just struggle for the inalienable right to self-determination as enshrined in the UNSC Resolutions.

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The military’s huddle was also apprised on Pakistan’s meaningful support to the Afghan peace process and stringent measures being taken for enhancing border security. “The COAS laid special emphasis on maintaining high standards of operational preparedness along the LoC, Working Boundary and Pak-Afghan international border in the wake of evolving geo-strategic milieu.”

Gen Qamar, the ISPR said, appreciated the high standard of training displayed by formations during various exercises besides an excellent performance of officers and troops participating in international training events and competitions.

He commended the formations for their constant focus on training and high state of morale which augments their operational readiness.

The army chief also appreciated formations for their all-out support to national response for tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, locust and eradication of polio. “The Pakistan Army shall continue defending and serving the nation in every possible way,” the army chief was quoted as saying by the military's media wing.

The COAS also awarded trophies to Mangla and Multan Corps for their overall best performance in sports and training respectively.