General Raheel Sharif shakes hands with troops during his visit. PHOTO: APP
Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif has said the whole nation has rejected the ‘misplaced ideology’ of terrorists, who, according to him, have lost their cause already and are being marginalised.
The army chief made these remarks during a visit to field formations deployed in South Waziristan on Tuesday, said a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
His visit came against the backdrop of Pakistan Army’s recent surgical strikes, in which over 80 suspected militants were killed in North Waziristan Agency.
The army carried out massive air strikes against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) after government’s efforts to strike a peace deal with the militant group through dialogue made little progress.
Speaking to troops fighting militancy in the lawless regions bordering Afghanistan, General Raheel appreciated the determination and steadfastness of the security forces and local tribesmen.
He commended their professional commitment and paid rich tributes to forces for their sacrifices in bringing peace and normalcy to the troubled regions. He reiterated Pakistan Army’s continued wholehearted support for tribal ‘brethren under all circumstances’.
The ISPR said the army chief reviewed the progress of mega and micro projects of socio-economic significance, undertaken by the army, and appreciated them for quality of work and timely completion.
He particularly mentioned the construction of Central Trade Corridor, a 714-kilometre road network, linking Pakistan’s Indus Highway and Waziristan agencies with the Afghan Ring Road.
The project, he pointed out, is already beginning to bring great economic dividends to the residents of the region.
General Raheel visited other community development schemes in health, education, water and power projects, as part of successful programmes for rehabilitation of the people.
He also visited the recently established Cadet College Spinkai Raghzai and lauded the college administration for the standard of education and administration being maintained, said the ISPR statement.
Talking to cadets, he said the education projects completed by the army would go a long way to groom a new generation of young Pakistanis from such remote areas and integrate them in the national mainstream.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 28th, 2014.
COMMENTS (9)
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We "The Pakistan Govt" should make Pak Army a partner or caretaker of Pakland while the army never run the state affairs and politicians never make friends with anyone who denounce or reject the Pak army as custodian of Pakland. Army won't wage a war without the permission of political leadership. Fact is; we can't trust our political leaders who are ready to make friends with the enemies and sell Pakland or it's resources for almost free.
@Rex Minor: you lose,man!!wake up to reality!
@Faruq:
Army is the Government of the people, by the people and for the people, in unison, the function of the poitical institution is to provide financial support for the monster. They were sent to the East wing to stop separation, to Kashmir to end occupation, to Baluchistan to suppress rebellion and now to the North to help the Americans withdraw their vast military from Afghanistan? All Missions Impossibles!
Rex Minor
The real cause was socialism but capitalism defeated socialism conclusively. Islam just barely crawled in to take the place. Islam was helped by capitalism but now they seem to be at loggerheads. To save Pakistan we must revive Socialism so that Islam can go back to being a Great religion that it was. Sort of defacto secularization.
thats good actually. Army shifted the nations attention towards revolution and anti revolutions and then suddenly took Taliban by surprise. Gov couldnt change mindsets for operation but the Army did it! We are with Army!
While the Army head says this "the whole nation has rejected the ‘misplaced ideology’ of terrorists"
One leader from KPK says the operation is a conspiracy against North Waziristan! and still harbours sympathy for militants and says he will talk to Army head to stop this!
We will not let anybody (even less some cricketer) sabotage the peace process through operation by the Pak Army. We are with you Pak Army! (ET please publish).
This is also a clear message from top brass that 'revolutionaries ' have lost their cause so stop dharnas and go home. Cheers.
This is a big punch on the face of those who tirelessly convincing gullible public that army has lost the war.Let us see how they make another somersault and accept it as our war.
It's great that the army seems to taking care of building education projects, but where on Earth is the government? Shouldn't school building and education fall under them, rather than the military?