Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Recounting successes of the Pakistan Army, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Bajwa on Monday said soldiers of the Pakistan Army are the best in the world.

General Bajwa said this while addressing troops during his visit to the Elite Strike Corps at Multan Garrison.

He laid a floral wreath at Yadgar-e Shuhada and prayed for the martyrs, a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor read.

The Top General was briefed about the operational preparations and administration of the troops.

Later, the COAS addressed soldiers and officers. He praised participation from Multan Corps in the ongoing counter terrorism operations in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

General Bajwa especially praised them for keeping themselves fully trained and prepared to thwart challenges of conventional war.

He said soldiers of the Pakistan Army are the best in the world, adding that army is what its soldiers are.

“Am proud to be COAS of a brave and highly professional Army,” he said. “Our experience of counterterrorism operations has made us battle hardened which is a valued add-on in operational preparedness,” he said.

The COAS directed officers and soldiers to keep themselves fully trained and abreast to defeat all types of threats.

Soldiers freely interacted with the COAS and expressed their pride and eagerness to selflessly serve the country and the nation.

Earlier, on his arrival, the COAS was received by Multan Corps Commander Corps Lieutenant General Sarfaraz Sattar.

On January 22, the Top gGeneral visited Parachinar and Peshawar. The COAS was given a detailed briefing on Saturday’s bombing in Parachinar’s vegetable market. The Top General also visited the Kurram Agency hospital to meet the injured people. He met tribal elders of the agency, the ISPR spokesman said.

He said terrorists would not be allowed to derail the stability of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

General Bajwa lauded the support of tribal people in combating terrorism and acknowledged their sacrifices for peace. He said that with their support the army, FC and other law enforcers have done a great job in stabilising the area and terrorists will fail to derail it.

The COAS lauded their efforts in maintaining tribal and sectarian harmony which is source of national integration. He said, “Pakistan belongs to all of us without any religious, provincial, tribal, linguistic, ethnic, sectarian or any other discrimination.”