ISLAMABAD - Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa said Monday that Pakistan’s armed forces have all required capabilities to fight against all external and internal threats, and traditional and non-traditional and all complex war. “If any enemy wants to fight us, it will find us ready at every moment and on every front,” COAS said while addressing a ceremony in connection with Defence and Martyrs’ Day held at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Monday night.

The army chief underlined that Pakistan’s Armed Forces were considered best in the world and said, “We have fought every enemy courageously and defeated all external and internal plots and above all, by achieving self-sustainability in defence capabilities, made the country’s defence impregnable,” he said.

He at the same time said that it was a fact that use of force was only the responsibility of the states and any extremism or extremist behaviours have not space in the country anymore. He further said that no group or a person would be allowed to display weapons except armed forces and law enforcement agencies. He added that any group or a person would not be allowed to black mail the state on the basis of ethnicity, language, ideology and religion.

The COAS said that they have no doubt that the relationship between Pakistan Army and the nation was the strong shield that has always defeated the enemy’s plots against Pakistan and this unity has always made them persevere.

He underscored said without the public’s cooperation and support, any army would prove to be a wall of sand “like we saw in our neighbouring country”—a reference towards the lightning capture of most areas of Afghanistan by Taliban.  

Our neighbour has not accepted our independence since 1947: President Alvi

Without support of nation, any army will prove to be a wall of sand as we saw in neighbouring country: COAS

“This is why the army’s success is dependent to a large extent on the people’s support,” he added.

General Qamar Javed Bajwa emphasised the changing nature of warfare, saying instead of large-scale war, modern technology and ways of communication and other tools were being used to weaken a nation’s unity and ideological boundaries, spread chaos and demoralize the people.

“Our enemies are also using non-traditional means including propaganda and disinformation to achieve their nefarious objectives,” he said. He said that they would have to deal strictly with some internal elements spreading chaos.

“It is a moment of reflection for all of us that some people are being used by anti-state elements. This is called hybrid or fifth-generation war in common language. Its purpose is to make Pakistan’s roots hollow and damage the country’s unity. We will never let these negative objectives succeed.

General Bajwa said that Armed Forces have proved that they, at every cost, knew to defend the country and were ready to give every sacrifice for this purpose. He said that this day reminded them that they have not forgotten their martyrs and welfare of their families and heirs was their responsibility.

“We would not avoid giving any sacrifice for Pakistan’ defense peace and journey of development.”

He said that they have to make a promise to make Pakistan tolerant, peaceful and modern Islamic welfare state in the light of thoughts of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. “Pakistan’s strength and stability lies in democracy. For this purpose, we would have to follow constitution and principles of tolerance, and justice,” he said. He added that negative behaviours like criticism for the sake of criticism, and hate and intolerance would have to be discouraged.

“Don’t ask what the country can do for you but tell what you can do for the country,” COAS quoting US President John F Kennedy said that they would have to serve the country selflessly. The army chief said that health education, infrastructure development, population and climate change should be their priorities.  

He said that they were keeping a close eye on the changing situation in Afghanistan. “We wish safety and development of our brothers in Afghanistan and expect that UN, regional and international powers would play their positive role for durable peace in Afghanistan.” He said that expect that stable government having representation of all groups could be formed in Afghanistan where human and women rights could be respected. He hoped that the world would not leave Afghanistan alone in this difficult time and added that they were ready to cooperate with the world in this regard.

Talking about the eastern border, General Bajwa said Pakistan has seen many difficult times since 2019 but Pakistan has proved itself to be a responsible and peace-loving state. “But our wish of peace should not be considered our weakness and we are ready to face any aggression fully.”  

COAs said that he wanted to make it clear that Kashmir issue has significance status when it comes to relations between Pakistan and India. “We reject all unilateral and unconstitutional August 5 actions of India taken in Occupied Kashmir,” he said and paid tribute to the sacrifices of Kashmiri martyrs and especially to the freedom struggle of Kashmiri resistance Syed Ali Geelani. “We assure that we will continue our political, moral and diplomatic support for the Kashmiri brothers at every level.”

 

President Dr Arif Alvi Monday said that Pakistan was facing difficulties to live with its eastern neighbor India with peace, respect and dignity despite all its efforts for peace.

“Our neighbour has not accepted our independence since 1947and now it is the time to accept realities from the core of heart, we should find a just solution to all problems and this contains the secret of development, safety and well-being of both the countries and the region,” the President said while addressing a special ceremony that was organised on the Defense and Martyrs Day at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.

Chairman Senate, ministers, advisors and special assistants to the prime minister, chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, all services chiefs, senior serving and retired military, air force and naval offices and the families of martyrs attended the special event besides others.

Dr Alvi at the same time reminded that the secret of development of the region is linked with the just solution of Kashmir issue and rejected the occupation of India on Kashmir as well as all its unilateral and unconstitutional steps taken on August 5, 2019.

“I want to tell the international world and UN that these violations cannot continue for a long time,” he said while addressing the participants as the chief guest. He also said that India would have to keep in mind that the struggle for independence couldn’t be suppressed on the basis of power and black laws for a long time as this was against the history of mankind and paid salute to the sacrificed rendered by the people of Indian Occupied Kashmir. He said that Pakistan would continue its diplomatic and moral support in this regard. He said that that Pakistan wanted peace in the region and reminded the neighbours and the world that they were focusing on the changing situation in Afghanistan. Pakistan has played a role in peace process and it is part of the efforts that are being made to attain durable peace in neighbouring Afghanistan, he also said.

President Alvi said that September 6 was not a day but a symbol of national unity, courage and sacrifice and reminded them how 56 years ago, the national stood like a steel wall against unannounced war and hawkish designs of the enemy.

“In this effort, we not only defeated the hawkish designs of enemy but we gave a message to world that we as nation not only love our intendance but we would not hesitate the give any sacrifice for this land.” He while referring to India said that the enemy also learnt the lesson from the war that relationship of whole national and Pakistan Armed Forces was exemplary that could not be ended.

President Alvi said their enemy was after their independence and serenity since the day one and Pakistan had to face aggression of India, either through conventional war, sometime through terrorism, sometime by creating water disputes and some time through economic and diplomatic tactics.  

He said that Pakistan gave huge sacrificed in the war on terror and the brave army carried out a number of successful operations to end the menace of terrorism and the protected the western border by fencing it.  

He said that peace in Afghanistan was linked with Pakistan and the world without any bias should recognize Pakistan’s efforts for the peace process in the neighbouring country.

“This is for our satisfaction that Pakistan’s defence production has increased and we are a responsible nuclear state and have the ability to meet our all defence needs.’

President advised that the nation should show confidence on the state, maintain unity in their ranks, and show patience, tolerance and unity. We would have to reject the propaganda, disinformation and fake news on the basis of facts, he added.

“Exemplary national unity can give guarantee to our peaceful and excellent future,” President said and paid tributes to the sacrifices of the martyrs and ghazis besides applauding the patience shown by their families.