Pakistan’s Army Chief General Raheel Sharif on Friday said defeated terrorists and their sympathizers inland and abroad are now frustrated and going after softer targets.
Addressing participants at National Defence University in Islamabad, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) said that remaining steadfast, and with an enhanced awareness and participation, “we as a Nation must pursue our national objective of zero presence of terrorists and total peace at any cost.”
“The contours of future war are fast changing. While our enemies are stoking terrorism to demoralise us and destabilize our country, we are united, fully determined and capable of defeating their nefarious designs,” he said according to a statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The address by the COAS focused on professional matters, internal and external security situation of the country and his vision of an enduring peace within Pakistan and the region.
“Pakistan is opposed to using proxies against other countries and will also not allow any other country to use proxies against Pakistan,” he said.
The army chief emphasised Pakistan’s resolve and determination to confront global phenomenon of terrorism and extremism and cleanse Pakistan of this menace. He said during operation Zarb-e-Azb, Pakistani nation has emerged as the most resilient nation of the world.
Dilating upon progress in concluding phase of kinetic prong of Operation Zarb-e-Azb, he explained how the Pakistan Army had transited from hard core kinetic operations to intelligence based operations and now combing operations.
Earlier on arrival at the NDU, General Raheel was received by President NDU Lieutenant General Nazir Ahmed Butt.
