Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Scoffing at Indian claims of surgical strikes on Pakistani soil, Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif on Thursday said India does not know the meaning of surgical strike if Pakistan would launch a surgical strike then the Indians would include it in their curriculum.

He was addressing the elders of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas during his farewell visit to Peshawar Corps Headquarters and Khyber Agency.

Daily Times learnt that the top general made it clear that India knows better the capability of Pakistani armed forces. He also said, “Our jawans and officers responded in a befitting manner on Line of Control and Working Boundary. The Indian claims of surgical strike are totally a drama.”

He said the Pakistan Army is well-trained to fight any kind of war and it has proved itself the best army in the world.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the top general addressed army and FC officers and soldiers in Wana. He commended them for successfully flushing out terrorists from their sanctuaries in FATA and destroying their infrastructure.

“Alhamdulillah, with support of the nation, we have completed the cycle of counterterrorism operations in a unique and comprehensive way. Our stabilisation operations and resettlement phase are helping us consolidate our gains,” the COAS said.

Later, General Raheel Sharif visited Khyber Agency and held a jirga in Bara. He thanked the tribal elders for supporting the army in cleansing their areas of terrorists. The top general praised them for their audacity and steadfastness.

He said, “We have fought this menace of terrorism together over the years and it has woven us eternally in an unbreakable bond.”

The COAS also laid the foundation stone of Shahid Afridi Cricket Stadium in Bara. The stadium has been named after the renowned cricketer to honour him for his services for Pakistan and is being built as part of sports infrastructure to explore talent and harness youth from FATA.

Tribal elders paid their gratitude to Gen Raheel Sharif for efforts in ensuring dignified return and quality reconstruction in FATA. On arrival, Lt Gen Hidayatur Rehman received the COAS.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said General Raheel Sharif is one of the finest military leaders of this generation.

“General Raheel has proved beyond shadow of doubt that he is one of the finest leaders of this generation,” the prime minister said in his address in the farewell dinner hosted for the COAS at the PM’s House.

Nawaz eulogised the services of the top general for defence of the country.

He lauded Gen Raheel’s bravery, saying the general always led from the front and boosted the morale of the troops.

Remembering the outgoing army chief’s tenure, Nawaz said Gen Raheel worked in tandem with him on many pressing issues, and always took his advice.

The PM said that under Gen Raheel’s leadership, Pakistan’s armed forces confronted not only external threats but also the menace of terrorism.

“We successfully established the writ of the state, and reclaimed every inch of territory under our sovereign control,” PM added.

He said Pakistan’s armed forces can surely take pride in the flawless execution of Operation Zarb-e-Azb, which is recognised as the most comprehensive robust and successful and anti-terrorism operation anywhere in the world.

Nawaz said, “We have worked together in addressing a number of security challenges, and today, Pakistan is much safer and stronger than 2013.” Nawaz thanked the army chief for his untiring efforts and commitment.