- Army chief says Pakistan has done enough
- ‘We don’t want [US] aid, we want your respect and confidence’
RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, during a ceremony at the General Headquarters (GHQ) on Wednesday, said despite Pakistan’s numerous sacrifices fighting terrorism, the country was being accused of not doing enough to eradicate the menace.
The ceremony was held in Rawalpindi to pay tribute to the martyrs of the 1965 war on Pakistan’s 52nd Defence Day.
“If Pakistan hasn’t done enough in the war against terror, then no country in the world has done so,” the army chief said during his address, adding that Pakistan has done enough and now it was time for the world to do more.
Bajwa, addressing the US, said: “We don’t want aid, we want your respect and confidence.”
The forces of Pakistan have paid with their blood the cost of wars from Operation Sher-e-Dil till Radd-ul-Fasaad, he said.
“For our complete success in the war against terrorism, we need the nation’s passion and cooperation,” he told the audience.
“Although the army can end terrorism, to gain control over terrorism and extremism it is necessary that every citizen is a soldier of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad,” he maintained.
The army chief, referring to Balochistan, said they were closely observing those who wanted to stir unrest in the province. He added, “Pakistanis belonging to all ethnicities are ready to lay their lives for peace and stability in Balochistan.”
The event started with children presenting a tableau. Later, the crowd stood up to the national anthem.
During the event, sacrifices of the officers were highlighted; a guard of honour was presented by a contingent of Pakistan Army.
Prior to his address, COAS Bajwa laid a wreath on a monument paying tribute to martyrs of the armed forces.
Along with prominent politicians—including Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, National Assembly (NA) Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, and Leader of the Opposition in the NA Khursheed Shah—former army chief Raheel Sharif was also in attendance at the ceremony.
Popular singer Atif Aslam opened the ceremony with a patriotic song.
Motivational speaker and activist Muniba Mazari also spoke at the ceremony.
Earlier in the day, Defence Day was celebrated in different parts of the country, with a show by the armed forces being held by the armed forces at Karachi’s Clifton beach.
A change of guard ceremony was also held at the mausoleums of Allama Iqbal in Lahore and Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi.
Former army chief Raheel Sharif reached Lahore’s Miani Sahib graveyard. He laid a floral wreath on the grave of his brother Maj Shabbir Sharif, who lost his life during the 1971 war.
Defence and Martyrs Day 2017 https://t.co/Lqy1EONfo9
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) September 6, 2017
