LONDON: Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif has said that Pakistan’s major military offensive was targeting the terrorists holed up in the rugged tribal border hands without any bias, Samaa reported.
“Operation Zarbe-e-Azb is making good progress and Pakistan Army has no favorites among the terrorists. The militants are being hit indiscriminately,” Director General Inter-Services Public Relations Maj Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa quoted the army chief as saying in one of his Twitter posts.
According to Bajwa, Gen Raheel said this while speaking at International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) here in London.
“Our relations with Afghanistan are also improving as both the countries are working for mutual as well as regional stability,” the army chief said.
Pakistan’s counterterrorism National Action Plan (NAP) was comprehensive to address the menaces of extremism and terrorism in the long term, the COAS told the audience at IISS.
He also did not forget to mention the efforts of the government.
“Pakistan’s incumbent civilian regime is doing its best to implement the NAP across-the-board,” the army chief said.
On tense ties with India, COAS Sharif said the biggest hurdle standing in the way to Pakistan-India peace was the Kashmir dispute.
"Kashmir issue has to be resolved for long term peace and stability in the region. Pakistan wants peace but with dignity and honour," the commander emphasized.
The military leader also called upon UK to boost its collaboration with Pakistan.
"The world needs to understand our environment. Our cooperation with UK in security and social sectors is growing. London should help us resettle Pakistan's Temporarily Displaced Persons (TDPs) in a dignified way," Gen Sharif said.
A Pakistani military delegation led by Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif is visiting Britain these days.
On the first day of a three-day visit, Gen Sharif called on Prime Minister David Cameroon at his residence on 10 Downing Street.
A statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations said that during the meeting the COAS stressed on PM Cameroon to take action against the proscribed organizations and other anti state elements operating from abroad so that terror financing pouring into Pakistan could be choked.
UK’s National Security Adviser, Sir Kim Darroch was also present on the occasion. Earlier n the same day UK’s Chief of Defense Staff Gen Sir Nicholas Houghton accompanied Gen Sharif while he was presented with a full guard of honour.
Later, Gen Sharif and his British counterpart extensively compared notes on intelligence sharing, counterterrorism cooperation, regional security, Afghanistan situation, and other matters of mutual interest.
The COAS also had a detailed give-and-take with UK Secretary of Defense Michael Fallen.
Gen Sharif Thursday visited the Royal College for Defence and gave Pakistan's perspective on security challenges it was faced with and its determination to uproot terrorism. On the same day he was taken to Military Academy Sandhurst, where he interacted with cadets. He also used this occasion to motivate as well advise Pakistani cadets studying at the academy to make their country proud.--SAMAA
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