Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif has said that the armed forces of Pakistan are fully equipped and prepared to respond to the entire spectrum of direct and indirect threats.

He was chairing the Corps Commanders’ Conference held in Rawalpindi on Monday. The forum had an in-depth review of external and internal security situation and operational preparedness of the army, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR).

Taking note of the hostile narrative being propagated by India, the COAS said that we are fully cognizant and closely watching the latest happenings in the region and their impact on the security of Pakistan.

Expressing his satisfaction over operational preparedness of the army, he said that Pakistan Army is fully prepared to mitigate the entire spectrum of internal and external threats.

“Pakistan’s armed forces together with our resilient nation have surmounted every challenge and will thwart any sinister design against the integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan in the future as well,” the COAS assured.

Commending the steady progress of Operation Zarb-e-Azb, General Raheel Sharif paid glowing tributes to officers and men of Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps, Rangers and police who are rendering supreme sacrifices while successfully fighting against terrorists across the length and breadth of the country.

During the meeting, the corps’ commanders discussed various matter pertaining to the latest security situation in Afghanistan, besides contemplating on Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s recent visit to India, Uri incident, Karachi operation and status of implementation on the National Action Plan (NAP).

The forum was briefed about the ceasefire violations committed by India in last three years and it was disclosed that most violations by Indian forces occurred during the United Nations General Assembly’s sessions, security sources told Daily Times.

It was highlighted in the meeting that the Indian troops committed 315 ceasefire violations at the Line of Control and working boundary in 2014, martyring 18 civilians while injuring 74. In 2015, India committed 248 ceasefire violations at LOC and WB due to which 39 civilians embraced martyrdom while 150 got injured.

Earlier on Sunday, Pakistan categorically rejected the Indian allegations of involvement in an attack on Indian security forces in Indian-held Kashmir’s (IHK) Uri area near LoC.

According to ISPR spokesman Lt General Asim Bajwa, in the backdrop of Uri terrorist attack, Pakistan and Indian army DGMO established hotline contact on the Indian request on Sunday afternoon in which latest situation along LoC was discussed.

Refuting unfounded and premature Indian allegations, Pakistani DGMO Major General Sahir Shamshad Mirza asked his Indian counterpart to share any actionable intelligence. The Pakistani DGMO also reiterated that no infiltration is allowed from Pakistani soil because watertight arrangements were in place on both sides of LoC/WB all along, the spokesman concluded.

Talking to Pakistan Television, Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria had lamented that the Indian government never furnished evidence to substantiate its claims rather continuously blamed Pakistan even without carrying out independent investigation into any incident.

Separately, European Union Special Representative for Afghanistan Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif at the General Headquarters (GHQ), ISPR reported on Monday.

According to a press release issued by ISPR, matters of regional security and mutual interest came under discussion during the meeting.

The visiting dignitary appreciated achievements of Pakistan Army and continuing efforts in their fight against terrorism to restore regional peace and stability.