GILGIT - Army Chief General Raheel Sharif yesterday sent a clear message to India that Pakistan knows its enemies, is fully aware of their nefarious designs and its forces are fully capable of defending the country.

Making a special mention of Indian PM Narendra Modi and neighbouring country’s intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), Gen Raheel assured his nation that the country’s frontiers are totally secure.

The army chief was speaking at a seminar in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) to highlight the progress on the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

“We want to assure the nation that the country and its frontiers are totally safe. Whether it is Modi or RAW or anybody else we fully understand tricks of the enemy,” he said.

He said terrorism was a very big challenge and Pakistan was the only country which overcame it. “Many other countries, including the Arab world, were badly affected by terrorism and they could not recover from it.”

He said the way the turmoil of terrorism was controlled it could not be done anywhere in the world. “The way our forces took up the challenge, was exemplary.”

The COAS added, “We don’t care what the world says, but we are fighting for our survival and the way the army has worked for eradication of terrorism, no other army can do that.”

He also said that corruption would be eradicated and its nexus with terrorism will be broken under any condition. He showed satisfaction over the performance of the armed forces in Zarb-i-Azb operation.

CPEC security

“I am confident that the country is moving in right direction and we will ensure foolproof security of CPEC,” Gen Raheel told the participants of the seminar.

The army chief said that a security division for the protection of CPEC project had been established in the North which will be deputed from Khunjerab to Rawalpindi, and the same kind of division would be set up in the South. This task, he said, was made possible through tireless efforts and commitment of the government. “Our commitment towards the completion of CPEC is visible,” he added.

GB development

He acknowledged and appreciated the courage and determination of Gilgit-Baltistan’s people. Referring to his recent visit to China, he said the Chinese leadership wanted progress of Gilgit-Baltistan similar to that in China’s city Urumqi and other regions.

“I was impressed to see the progress of Urumqi in a short span of time. I have no doubt that we can make that kind of progress in our region too.”

“The way youth welcomed me I want to tell them that Pakistan Army is your army. Army is working for the well being of the nation,” he said. He urged youth to never compromise on its dignity and honour. “You have a lot of potential to take this region forward.”

General Raheel Sharif announced start of work on a technical institute which will have capacity to train 350 students and in future up to 800 students.

A modern medical city will also be established for providing health facilities to patients including cardiac patients besides provision of  medical educational facility, he said. He said a campus of National University of Science and Technology (NUST) would also be established in Gilgit while uplift of Jaglot-Skardu road would also be undertaken.

The two-day CPEC Seminar was co-hosted by government of Gilgit Baltistan and Karakoram International University in Gilgit.