Live-fire exercises: Military will defeat all threats, says COAS

Statement came against the backdrop of a likely operation in North Waziristan.

ISLAMABAD:

Army chief General Raheel Sharif said on Wednesday that the military would defeat every threat to the ‘motherland’ in accordance with the expectations of the people.

The statement, which he made during a visit to Kotri Ranges to witness Field Firing and Battle Inoculation Exercise of Karachi Corps, came against the backdrop of a likely operation in North Waziristan.

The exercises, according to the ISPR, were aimed at training troops in various tactical operations under battlefield environment.

The army chief commended the standard of training of the participating troops and lauded their skills, precision and accuracy in engaging the targets. He said strenuous training and highest standard of preparedness in peacetime were the only guarantors of peace.

“Perpetual quest for modern techniques, seizing the initiative from the enemy and mastery in battle procedures are essential for success in all kinds of military operations, whether conventional or unconventional,” he was quoted as saying by the ISPR.

The army chief said in unequivocal terms that with the backing of the nation, “we will accomplish our mission of defeating every threat to our motherland in accordance with the expectation of the people of Pakistan.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2014.