Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani issued a warning to Afghanistan on Thursday to stop cross-border activities in Pakistan.
Addressing a Pak-Saudi joint military exercise programme in Mangla, Kayani asserted that no such activities would be tolerated and that Pakistan “possesses the capability to respond to any situation”.
Last month, Pakistan lodged a formal protest with the Afghan government over cross-border attacks emanating from Kunar and Nuristan provinces in Afghanistan against Pakistani check posts.
During the address, the Army chief said the people of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share a deep and strong friendship, adding that the objective of the ongoing joint exercises was to improve counter-terrorism.
Kayani also said that military operations were not the ideal solution for every problem, adding that the global community was well aware of this fact.
Military exercise
The Pak-Saudi joint military exercises were part of a larger attempt to provide the opportunity to troops from both sides to benefit from each other’s training experiences. Kayani and the Saudi chief were also present to monitor the exercises.
During the session, armed forces from both countries successfully carried out training drills to improve and enhance counter-terrorism strategies. The drill is part of three-week joint military exercise programme which aims at sharing information through inclusive training. The session will also include collective training at the unit and brigade level to observe drills and procedures in low intensity conflict operations.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 7th, 2011.
COMMENTS (43)
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@Noor: What makes you think that the Pakistani Pashtoon want to be a part of Afghanistan. Stop dreaming son.
@Romm: If that happens, rest assured we Indians know how to take care of ourselves and the guys like you. Rest assured on that score. We have done that in the past, we can do that in future too.
I am from Pakistan and with such a shame I must say that Pakistan is responsible for the instability in the region. In Pakistan view, stable Afghanistan is not in benefit for Pakistan, why:
Afghan wars are fought through Pakistan (billions $ game) 3 trillion $ per year heroin is exported from Pakistan, sure we have share in it besides others. Durand line issue, stable Afghanistan will demand their part which is Pakistan now like Quetta and Peshawar. Sincere Pakistan should join India in signing agreement with Afghanistan to help them in all walks of life, enough is enough of double games and crushing of Pashtoons on both sides of the border.Once Mr.Riaz Khokar,in a talk show, very aptly said that we should not trust Karzai ,he is a snake in the grass. It is known to all & sundry that Karzai is keeping his Dollars in Indian banks,hence friendship.In cross-border attacks on Pakistan, Afghanistan has the support of India,Nato & Americans.
india should stop training camps in afghanistan.india is recruiting terrorists in afghanistan.
look who's talking about cross-border activities. LOL, isn't its us who's every tom and dick wish to conquer afghanistan?
Stop cross-border terrorism? Deja vu, Mr. Kayani. Only this time you are at the receiving end. It would be real funny if Afghanistan Govt. tells him in straight words that they provide only moral support to terrorists and all the terrorist activities are being done by non-state actors :D :D
It's called Karma, Mr. :) What goes around comes around!
Adam West : Which world are u in. Does your LOC extend upto Mumbai ??
cheif sahab we are with Pakistan arm forces will support them in any situation... Pakistan zindabad.....
The Afghans are not going to stop cross border raids until the question of Pashtunistan is settled. Settlement of the Pashtunistan issue in accordance to the wishes of the Afghan people is a must for lasting peace in South Asia. The British illegally carved up Afghanistan and the historical wrong must be righted.
Pakistan played the game of Kashmir, Afghans will play the game of Pashtunistan.
Have fun.
@Adam West, Sorry neither is the Durand Line a border. It is just an artificial line dividing Pakhtoonistan
Lets forget Afghanistan and save Pakistan. Seal the border and tell US that it should fight its own war and we will fight ours. Blame game and parcels passing are mere rhetoric. Its time we put our own house in order. Its terrible to save strategic depth at the cost of losing own country and identity. Save Pakistan please, its high time.
@Vasan - LOC is not a border. Not the same thing.....
Lets Kill the Cancer of terrorism in our own country and drop our outdated policy of strategic depth - this will solve our problems and those of our neighbours
Time to seal the border with Afghanistan and teach them a lesson. They have been involved in all manner of terrorism for their Indian masters against Pakistan. Good for Kayani!
joint war games with a country we should stay away for the sake of cleaning our country of extremism.
@patrick LoL!
Drill against terrorist hideouts , coming from those that run the largest number of terrorist training camps in the world !
'Kiyani said the people of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share a deep and strong friendship. ' do they also share a stone age mentality, repression of women and minorities and a warped interpretation of Islam?
look who is talking
Takes some gall to make such a statement after ignoring Afghan/NATO constant complaints for the last ten years. I doubt the Afghans have any sympathy - for that matter I doubt anyone outside of Pakistan has any sympathy for Pakistan on this matter.
Right on. It's high time that we give the Afghanis an ultimatum that they stop working as lackeys of India to send criminals to Pakistan. Now more than ever ,it's time to seal the border with Afghanistan.
Let there be no doubt that Pakistan is not a weak country and our brave armed services are capable of defending its soil. Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kiani’s message is loud and clear for those living across the borders of Pakistan. Whole nation is behind their armed forces and we are united to face any aggression or challenge. We have the means, will and capability to face any challenge. Afghani forces and their groups attacked Pakistani area several time. Pakistan has responded to their attacks. Shocking element is that NATO forces do not stop this anti Pakistan cross border terror activities. That means USA is encouraging these terror activities. TTP has moved their headquarter to Afghanistan and they are attacking Pakistan from there. Why isn’t USA and NATO is doing anything to stop them. USA should DO MORE to curb these terrorists and STOP playing DOUBLE GAME. We want peace in our region. We want to maintain good and cordial relations with our neighbors. We want a safe and prosperous Afghanistan. But Afghanistan is playing in enemies hands. Pakistan has protested many times and asked Afghan government to control cross border activities against Pakistan. But it seems that all our requests and protests are falling on deaf ea
Kayani should first stop cross-border terrorism at LoC in Kashmir and only then deliver sermons to Afghanistan.
Especially when problem is one of the "strategic assets".
Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tehmina Janjua said on Thursday that Pakistan expects Afghanistan to demonstrate maturity.
Janjua says Pakistan seeks friendly ties with Afghanistan, rooted in common history, culture and tradition. She says this is no time for "point-scoring, playing politics or grandstanding.
Same as what India has been telling Pakistan with no result.
Pak military should make more asserted steps towards hypocratic afghanistan & hypocrtic Karzai govt
HmHmHm : Let me recollect what was Pak/Pak army's reply when India made similar complaints in Kashmir, Kargil etc .. I got it , It is "Non state actors" . Isnt it.
About time the army stands against the Afghan govt.Let this be the start of the end of suffering of the people of Pakistan. Afghan government quick to play political games and blaming Pakistan and the ISI before going to india, let there be military action from Pak against Afghan militants, and force the international community to respect the efforts of Pakistan Army and the sacrifices of the Pakistani citizens, as it is clear right now that no matter what Pakistan dose in this fight it still comes on top as the under dog...
good job by Pak. Army
"Stop cross border activites..." I hope it was said with a straight face.