Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that the war on terror will continue with focused approach in order to take the military operation to its logical conclusion.

“We will continue to move ahead of the gains already made so far,” the army chief said while speaking to troops in North Waziristan during his first visit to field formations after taking over the command of the Pakistan Army.

Paying tribute to brave tribes, officers and men of the army, Frontier Corps, Levies and the police, General Bajwa vowed that no fleeing terrorist would ever be allowed to return. He said that defence and security of Pakistan against external and internal threats would remain his ultimate objective as the COAS.

He stressed the need for expediting the pace of raising of new FC wings to enhance an effective Pakistan-Afghan border management.

He said the temporarily displaced persons’ (TDPs) return should be completed within the stipulated time, and they should be assisted in all ways to resettle respectfully.

Earlier, the COAS visited the Corps Headquarters Peshawar, where he was given a detailed briefing on the prevailing security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, FATA and Malakand Division, ongoing stabilisation and combing operations, progress on the return of TDPs and continuing development work.

Meanwhile, defence sources said that the new COAS would soon announce major reshuffles and make transfers, postings and promotions, as the important office of the chief of general staff is still vacant following the promotion and appointment of General Zubair Mehmood Hayat as the chairman joint chiefs of staff committee (CJCSC).

The new inspector general of training and evolution would also be appointed, a post previously held by General Bajwa himself.

Sources said that four three star generals – Lieutenant General Najeeb, Lieutenant General Wajid, Lieutenant General Ashfaq Nadeem and Lieutenant General Javed Iqbal Ramday – had been superseded due to the appointment of General Bajwa as the army chief. Therefore, they will most likely follow the tradition of the army and leave their responsibilities. However, military sources said it was not a hard and fast rule, so a superseded general could continue rendering service if he wanted to.

Sources said that some corps commanders would also be changed, while the new Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general would also be appointed.

The current ISI DG, Lieutenant General Rizwan Akhtar, may be given a corps, they said, adding that ISPR DG Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa was also a strong candidate.