ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Raheel Sharif on Friday reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to confront the global challenge of terrorism and extremism and cleanse the country of this menace. Addressing the participants of a training course at the National Defence University in the federal capital, the army chief said the Pakistani nation emerged as one of the most resilient nations of the world during the Operation Zarb-e-Azb. Talking about various phases of the operation, he said, “We transited from hardcore kinetic operations to intelligence-based operations and now combing operations.” He said that defeated terrorists and their frustrated sympathisers in Pakistan and abroad were now going for softer targets. “Remaining steadfast, and with an enhanced awareness and participation, we as a nation must pursue our national objective of zero presence of terrorists and total peace at any cost,” he said. Gen Sharif said, “The contours of future war are fast changing. While our enemies are stoking terrorism to demoralise us and destabilise our country, we are united, fully determined and capable of defeating their nefarious designs. Pakistan is opposed to using proxies against other countries and will also not allow any other country to use proxies against Pakistan.”