Can’t slack on preparedness against threats, COAS tells troops

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Friday visited Rawalpindi Corps Headquarters and said that there cannot be any slack in the army’s preparedness against the perpetual threat on the eastern border, said a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).

Bajwa expressed his satisfaction at the operational preparedness of the troops deployed along the Line of Control (LoC) and received a detailed briefing on the prevalent conditions in the area.

The army chief also expressed satisfaction at the responses given by Pakistan army to Indian troop’s ceasefire violations (CFV), added the ISPR report.

On his arrival at the Corps headquarters, the army chief was received by 10 Corps Corps Commander Lieutenant General Nadeem Raza.

Earlier in November, the army chief and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi visited the LoC and condemned the targeting of civilians residing in the area by Indian forces. During the visit, they reiterated that Pakistan would continue to provide political, moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people for their struggle.

Incidents of firing from across the border have increased after the right-wing government of Narendra Modi came to power and has caused a significant material and human loss. Indian forces have used medium and heavy weapons in recent times to target the civilian population of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

In a press conference held on October 5, ISPR Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor said that the border was “unsafe because of India’s inappropriate reactions”.

Talking about the increasing number of ceasefire violations by Indian forces, he said that the current year had witnessed the highest number of violations compared to previous years. He added that India has paid a price for the firing incidents and will continue to do so if India does not check itself.

“Threats from India are perpetual. We are a peaceful country and we do not want war with them, but we will defend ourselves fully and have the capability to do so,” he said. “Unlike India, we cannot fire indiscriminately as there are Kashmiri brothers on the other side as well. When there are casualties on that side, it is of soldiers and infrastructure. However, war is not the solution and we are talking to them at all levels to stop this.”