COAS wants nation to reject doomsayers

Condemns ‘reprehensible attempts’ to drive a wedge between army and people

ISLAMABAD:

On the eve of Independence Day, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Syed Asim Munir, unequivocally denounced any efforts aimed at creating division between the Pakistan Army and the nation. He affirmed that the armed forces of the country and its citizens remain resolutely united.

“The Pakistan Army as a national army takes pride in its unwavering commitment to the people of Pakistan. Attempts to drive a wedge between the army and the nation are reprehensible, and will never succeed,” General Munir said on Sunday, while addressing the Azadi Parade at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA).

He said the army has the will, capacity and capability to withstand all challenges, whether external or internal, and that it shall contribute towards both the national security as well as national development.

“I urge you to reject despondency, propaganda of naysayers and fear mongers, who are waging a failed attempt to foment despair and hopelessness. This great country and the nation has withstood many such challenges during its creation and thereafter,” he added.

The army chief, who quoted a number of Quranic verses in the course of the speech, said the nation is passing through “interesting times, a watershed era, fraught with challenges, geo-political wrangling, increasing power contestation, hegemonism and jingoism”.

“We continue to withstand the evil designs of the inimical forces; forces of instability and chaos, which are eager in their failed attempts to undo Pakistan.

“Let me caution them all, in the words of our great Quaid, ‘There is no power on earth, which can undo Pakistan’ - Inshallah. We have fought for a long time with our external and internal enemies, and we will fight for as long as required in future as well.”

Addressing the people of Kashmir, he said they will also get freedom from the clutches of brutal occupation forces just as Pakistan got freedom 76 years back.

“No evil design can withstand the determination of the Kashmiri people, despite the communication blackouts, blatant use of the bayonets and turning Illegally Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir into the largest prison of the world.”

He said it is for the conscience of the international community to realize that Indian excesses in Kashmir have gone unaddressed and the right to freedom and self-determination is being denied at the altar of geo-political necessity.

The COAS said India has never been able to reconcile with the idea of Pakistan and is a threat to regional peace and stability.

“I must say that we gained freedom after a great struggle and we know how to defend it. The strategic calculus of our arch rival, skewed by its outsized ambition, carrying an illusion of being a great power and blinded by Hindutva driven hyper nationalism, needs serious attention of the world

“We will never be coerced by any aggressive designs, and neither can the region afford such hostility amongst two nuclear powers.

“Unfortunately, the adversary continues to peddle its nefarious designs against us for petty political mileage; I would humbly remind them of their predicament, last time they tried to do so,” he said.

He said Pakistanis have been the most hospitable nation and wished that the Afghan government would reciprocate their earnest efforts by at least not allowing its soil to be used against Pakistan.

He reassured the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, who are resiliently fighting against the savages of terrorism and proxies for over two decades, that they will succeed in this war. “We want you to live in peace, and progress in line with the aspirations of the people,” he said.

He said for 76 years, the nation has maintained this tradition of celebrating freedom, equality and the quest for happiness, which it must continue to cherish.
“We are here to reinforce the patriotic spirit of serving our homeland, a land of countless opportunities and immeasurable bounties.

“Our great country and the nation will Inshallah continue to rise, in line with the aspirations of our forefathers, the people of Pakistan and for a bright future of the coming generations,” he added.