PM, COAS visit Peshawar Corps HQ

 

PESHAWAR: Expressing satisfaction over the success of the ongoing operation “Zarb-e-Azb”, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the pace of success of armed forces in the operation was very encouraging. “We will win this war,” he vowed.
He said this while visiting the Peshawar Corps Headquarters on Friday where he was briefed by corp commander, Peshawar, on Zarb-e-Azb. The prime minister was accompanied by Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) Gen Raheel Sharif, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan Abbasi, Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak, Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Federal Minister for State and Frontier Regions (Safron) Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch.

The prime minister said that the entire nation was supporting the armed forces in the war against terror and will overcome every challenge. “The goal of achieving peace is not very far and I have full confidence that with the help of Allah Almighty, we will win this war,” he said.

He was briefed on different stages of Operation Zarb-e-Azb in the North Waziristan Agency (NWA) and the status of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in bordering areas of KP with Fata.

He said the government and armed forces would ensure the provision of all possible help to the affected people and the federal government will provide required resources in this regard. Earlier, the prime minister laid a floral wreath at the Yadgar-e-Shuhada at the headquarters of 11 Corps and prayed for the departed souls. Nawaz also held meetings with KP Governor Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan and Chief Minister Pervaiz Khan Khattak at the Governor’s House, Peshawar, before returning to Islamabad.

COAS visits corps headquarters, briefed on Zarb-e-Azb

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif has emphasized that all terrorists along with their sanctuaries must be eliminated without any discrimination.

According to an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release the COAS visited Corps Headquarters Peshawar on Monday where he was given a detailed briefing on the progress of Operation Zarb-e-Azb.

The ISPR adds, that the Army Chief expressed his satisfaction over the preparation and progress of the operation so far, adding that the operation is not targeted against our valiant tribes of North Waziristan but against the terrorists holed up in the Agency who have picked up arms against the state of Pakistan.

IDP Management
Additionally, the COAS directed all concerned to undertake special measures towards diligent management of IDPs in coordination with the relevant civilian agencies.

The Army Chief reiterated that with the support of the nation, operation Zarb-e-Azb will be concluded successfully and comprehensively.

Pak Army fully prepared to defeat any aggression: COAS

RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif has said that the Pakistan Army, in unison with other services, is fully prepared to deter and defeat any aggression across the entire spectrum of threat, says a press release.

The COAS, Gen Sharif, visited the Command and Staff College, Quetta, on Friday.While addressing the participants of the course, the COAS said that Pakistan Army had the unique accomplishment of having been employed on various fronts against two different types of threats i.e. conventional and sub conventional for the last over one decade and was respected for its achievements and sacrifices the world over.

The COAS exhorted the need for future leadership to remain abreast with the latest global and regional developments and focus on their professional grooming.While elaborating on his vision, the COAS emphasised that the army should carry its glorious legacy as a national army suffused with an enhanced degree of professional ethos, pride and esprit de corps.

It is an army which continues to be reflective of Pakistan’s aspirations manifesting the collective will and resilience of its proud citizens, a symbol of national unity and cohesion.Earlier, on arrival in Quetta, the COAS was received by Commander Southern Command, Lieutenant General Naseer Khan Janjua.

Terrorists being marginalised: COAS

 

RAWALPINDI: The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif, said on Tuesday that the terrorists who had clearly lost their cause were being marginalised and the whole nation had rejected their misplaced ideology.
According to the ISPR, General Raheel said this during his visit to field formations deployed in Waziristan.The army chief commended the troops’ professional commitment and paid rich tributes to them for their sacrifices in bringing peace and normalcy to the troubled regions.

The COAS reviewed the progress of mega and micro projects of socio-economic significance being undertaken by the army and appreciated them for quality of work and timely completion.

He particularly mentioned the construction of the Central Trade Corridor, a 714-kilometre road network, linking Pakistan’s Indus Highway and Waziristan agencies with the Afghan Ring Road, which is already beginning to bring great economic dividends to the local residents of the region.

The COAS visited other community development schemes in health, education, water and power projects, as part of successful programmes for rehabilitation of the people.Later, the COAS visited the recently-established Cadet College Spinkai Raghzai and lauded the college administration for the standard of education and administration being maintained. Talking to cadets, he said that these education projects completed by the army would go a long way in grooming a new generation of young Pakistanis from such remote areas and integrate them into the national mainstream.

The army chief appreciated the determination and steadfastness of the troops and locals. He reiterated the Pakistan Army’s continued and wholehearted support for the tribal brethren under all circumstances.

PAF role crucial to make country’s defence invincible: COAS

SARGODHA: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif has said Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has a crucial role to make the country's defence invincible.

He was addressing the ceremony regarding induction of Fourth Squadron of F-16 planes into PAF fleet at Mushaf Airbase in Sargodha Wednesday.

The army chief said the induction of these aircrafts would further increase the professional capabilities of the PAF.

He said role of Mushaf Airbase is immensely important in the country's defense.

Lauding the cooperation of Royal Jordanian Air Force and the Kingdom of Jordan, the Army Chief said this initiative would strengthen the existing historic bonds between the two countries.

Earlier, Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshall Tahir Rafique Butt in his address said addition of new squadron in the fleet will increase PAF's capacity in combating both internal as well as external challenges.

He thanked the prime minister for giving go ahead to complete this project despite financial constraints.

COAS for Kashmir solution under UN resolutions

 

ISLAMABAD: The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif, said on Wednesday that Kashmir was the jugular vein of Pakistan. Addressing a large gathering on the occasion of Youm-e-Shuhada here at the GHQ, he stressed the resolution of the Kashmir issue in accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.He said that Kashmir was an internationally recognised dispute and added that matchless sacrifices offered by the Kashmiris would not go waste.

COAS speech far better than expectations

ISLAMABAD: The army chief, General Raheel Sharif, made an excellent speech, far better than expectations, and much to the satisfaction of the nation. We hope he will stick to his words for the better future of Pakistan.

The general sounded like a true professional soldier, showed complete faith in democracy, talked about upholding the Constitution and the rule of law, appreciated the role of civil society and the media, and paid rich tributes to the role of the Pakistan Army, intelligence agencies and police, etc.

To the discomfort of India and the likes of Narendra Modi, General Sharif referred to Kashmir as the “jugular vein” of Pakistan and sent a clear message to India that though Pakistan does pursue the objective of peace, it could neither forget Kashmir nor put this major irritant between the two countries on the backburner. The only missing point, an important one, in the army chief’s speech was Islam and the Islamic ideology.During the recent weeks, there have been ups and downs in the civil-military relationship, which led to a lot of gossiping about the “anger” and “uneasiness” in the military circles. But hearing the army chief in this fashion was like music to one’s ears.

General Raheel showed his complete faith in democracy, the upholding of the Constitution and rule of law and insisted that this was the only way forward and the real path to the country’s progress. Raheel insisted that all institutions of the state have to play their role in strengthening the system.

Such commitment to democracy, Constitution and the rule of law from the army chief would serve as a real shut up call to some of those retired generals/air marshals, etc, and some “informed” defence correspondents who, while quoting their sources hurl subtle threats on the behalf of army and create misunderstandings between the civilian and military leaderships. General Raheel’s speech has proved one point that such retired generals/air marshals and journalists are not trustworthy. They are perhaps pursuing someone else’s agenda to create rifts and invite troubles for Pakistan.

In the midst of the ongoing Geo-ISI controversy, General Raheel Sharif also chose to appreciate the role of civil society and the media. I had my fears that he might give a passing remark on the Geo-ISI controversy but he did not mention it at all. General Sharif was instead all praise for the role of the media. He also voiced his complete support to the freedom of press and responsible media. With such a man being the army chief, I do expect better handling of the situation arising out of the post-Hamid Mir attack Geo-ISI controversy.

As the anti-Pakistan and anti-Muslim BJP’s extremist Narendra Modi, who is generally expected to be the next prime minister of India, recently talked of a possible May 2 Abbottabad like strike in Pakistan to target Dawood Ibrahim, the army chief, General Raheel, sent a clear message to India that no nonsense would be accepted by the Pakistan Army.

He instead made India feel uneasy by referring to Kashmir as the jugular vein of Pakistan. Raheel appreciated the sacrifices made by the people of held Kashmir and urged upon the need for resolving the issue in line with the UN resolutions and the desire of the Kashmiri people.

Raheel Sharif’s speech, on the one hand, has won the acclaim of those struggling for the rule of law and upholding of the Constitution and, on the other hand, his words would give sleepless nights to Narendra Modi in India and those here trying to create a rift between the civilian and military leaderships.

COAS witnesses Saudi military’s war exercise

RIYADH: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif has witnessed Saudi military’s war exercise “Shamsheer of Abdullah”.

The military experts and chiefs of army staff of Gulf States were also present in the concluding ceremony of the exercises.

General Raheel Shairf had left for two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia on the invitation of Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

PM, COAS, US envoy discuss regional situation

 

RAWALPINDI: The US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, James Dobbins, called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif respectively on Friday.
Besides matters of mutual interest, they discussed the regional security situation, the US drawdown and reconciliation process in Afghanistan. They also discussed the post-Afghan election scenario and situation on the Pak-Afghan border.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and US Ambassador Richard Olson attended the meeting.US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan James Dobbins also called on the Chief of the Army Staff, General Raheel Sharif, in Rawalpindi.

Besides matters of mutual interest, they discussed the Pak-US defence cooperation, security situation of the region, the US drawdown and situation on the Pak-Afghan border.According to the ISPR, during the meeting, issues of mutual interest were discussed. While the success of Afghan presidential elections was noted with satisfaction, the importance of stable and democratic Afghanistan was emphasized for regional security.

COAS must act to end retaliatory steps from various segments: APNS

KARACHI: Hameed Haroon, the President of the All Pakistan Newspapers Society (APNS), appealed to Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif to rein in the knee-jerk retaliatory measures that had been initiated by various segments of the armed forces.

“This will lessen any public misperceptions with respect to what the security establishment sees as its principled stand in the matter. It is grossly unfair that Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam or any other member of the security establishment be presumed guilty unless the substance of such guilt can be irrefutably proved in a commission of enquiry. If he is found innocent, the media group found guilty of publishing and broadcasting such allegations against him must tender an unqualified apology as per the valid international norms that govern such situations.”

He expressed concern that “the freedom of the press envisioned in Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan is now facing the gravest threat it has encountered in the past decade, and if press freedoms are allowed to deteriorate further, irreversible damage will be

inflicted on Pakistan’s democracy and the constitutionally stipulated freedoms associated with it”.

According to a press release, he emphasised that apart from the dangers of targeting the lives of journalists by extremist elements in the country, a dangerous drift towards anarchy has reared its ugly head in the past week where the unbridled behaviour on the part of certain sections of the security establishment and the media, coupled with confused signals emanating from the government, have resulted in damaging the freedom of expression and the freedom of press enshrined in the Constitution.

“The signs on the horizon are clear. The fundamental problem appears to be that every one of the principal players involved in this crisis is responsible for a saddening deterioration of public affairs. The apparent undue haste with which the Independent Media Corporation and the Independent Newspaper Corporation, the twin media firms controlling the Geo-Jang group, pointed an accusatory finger at the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) as being complicit in what can only be described as a murderous attack upon television anchor and columnist Hamid Mir, is only one part of the problem. The promptness with which the ISI through its Deputy Director General responded with a complaint through the Defence Ministry to Pemra to seek revocation of the broadcasting licences and the declarations of the GEO-Jang group, has clearly demonstrated that the institution of the armed forces has acted in haste and has not critically examined the validity of their positions nor of subsequent actions that have stemmed from a misconceived interpretation of press laws.”

“At first the government appeared to be dealing wisely with the new threat to press freedoms posed by the murderous attacks on Raza Rumi in Lahore and Hamid Mir in Karachi. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Nawaz Sharif, speedily acted to form a judicial commission to investigate the attempt on Mir’s life at the highest level. One would have thought with an appropriate high-level commission of enquiry, composed of the superior judiciary, any investigation of the incident of the attempt on Hamid Mir’s life appeared to be in capable hands.

“However, within a day of the prime minister’s announcement, the ISI through the Defence Ministry called for the revocation of the licenses and declarations of the GEO-Jang group, with Pemra officials making suitably supportive statements. Thus despite a wise move by the prime minister to constitute a commission immediately, the guilt of the offending party had been prejudged, well in advance of the verdict.”

“Clearly the need of the hour is to immediately force a cooling down of tempers in all sections of the state and security apparatus as well as, critically, within the media itself. If we are to speak of ensuring the ‘preservation of the sovereignty, security and integrity of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan’ then the imperative is for all contending parties to exercise restraint.”

“Additionally, the damage in this potentially explosive powder-keg needs to be contained. The Judicial Commission of Enquiry should begin work immediately and avail of the services of Hamid Mir, among others, to reach a satisfactory conclusion as to which persons were responsible for engineering this attempt. Only when the findings are made public can it be determined whether the management and journalists of the newspaper (who have both been alleged as complicit in a slander campaign according to the ISI complaint to the Defence Ministry), were justified in levelling their early allegations. Nor would it be just to proceed with any retaliatory actions against this media group, awaiting the results of the high-level judicial enquiry that has been instituted. Such a travesty of justice is not becoming for any credible democracy.”

“In the meantime I also appeal to all sections of the media to exercise credible restraint and desist from publishing or broadcasting any statement which might be considered prima facie as defamatory or slanderous either against the ISI chief or against the media group.

“Concurrently it is imperative for the prime minister and the federal minister for information to immediately commence a formal dialogue with all the major national bodies - the APNS, the CPNE, the PBA and the PFUJ - to attempt to provide a meaningful framework in which journalists can tell the truth and be protected from life-threats while doing so. This alone will ensure the ordered functioning of a nascent democracy and encourage the government to clamp down with unbridled severity on the spiralling incidents of violence against the media.”

PM, COAS met frequently in four months

ISLAMABAD: No Chief of Army Staff (COAS) has held so many meetings with a prime minister in such a short span of time as General Raheel Sharif has had with Nawaz Sharif in just four months but still meeting of the minds on Pervez Musharraf’s fate is missing.

This is indicative of the fact that though the two Sharifs have met for a number of times, they have not held even a slight discussion on the former general’s future.Both apparently consciously avoided touching this subject for their own reasons and restricted their deliberations to only burning national issues specifically security matters, terrorism and peace talks with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

All together, the Sharif duo has met for some half a dozen times since the new army chief took command of the Pakistan Army in November last. Since then, Nawaz Sharif has been abroad on official tours for nearly a month, which means that the prime minister and the COAS have held meetings at least twice a month which is a very good frequency keeping in view the record of the sessions between such position holders in the past.

This regularity, generally speaking, signals the impression that all’s well as the two top guns sit together and positively work to thrash out issues, sharing views on almost all matters that have the potential of marring their relations.

They met in December, January, February and March, and are expected to be under one roof once again four days later on April 19 at the Pakistan Military Academy Kakul passing out parade where the prime minister will be the chief guest. They may hold a session even before that.

Almost every time, the two chiefs met, senior cabinet ministers and other top officials harped on the theme that the government and the army are on the same page on all critical issues. This was always taken as a positive development in a country where they have usually been holding conflicting stands.

Intensive interactions no doubt help remove misgivings and misunderstandings apart from helping formulation of consensus policies. But although the two sides have been frequently meeting, they have not been on the same wavelength and have not developed the desired rapport on the Musharraf saga otherwise General Raheel Sharif would not have deemed it necessary to issue his famous public statement, prompting some elements, who dream of rocking the relations between the two for their ulterior motives, to paint it as a storm.

All the soldiers’ concerns that the general wanted to address through his public remarks could have been discussed with the prime minister and an easy way-out would have been conveniently found to remove them.

Interpretations of the chief’s comment are galore. One most mooted and plausible puts it as a reaction to some statements of two Khawajas, Defence Minister M Asif and Railways Minister Saad Rafique.

Instead of going public, the best option was to point out to the prime minister their “irresponsible attack” that may have demoralised the soldiers fighting on different fronts, and get it stopped

General Raheel Sharif has just started his three-year tenure as the army chief. Never before has any of his predecessors issued such a statement after just first four months of assuming office. Regardless of what other highly placed government functionaries have stated, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan turned out to be more forthcoming, honest and saner when he admitted the row, though temporarily, which he hoped would go not without much difficulty.

The COAS has made it a point to take some other generals including Ashfaque Nadeem, the Chief of General Staff, and Zaheerul Islam, the Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) in some high-level meetings with the prime minister, who was assisted by his close aides.

Apart from the elaborate contacts the prime minister has had with the army chief, Chaudhry Nisar too has been having comprehensive interactions with the top men of the security establishment including the ISI chief for consultations on the peace talks and other matters.

At no stage has the government gone solo on the question of the dialogue process. It constituted the first committee after talking to the army. Again, it consulted the force when it formed the second body. Thus, there has been no breaking of communication on this critical issue. But still some people, who pose themselves to be speaking on behalf of the security establishment, have been asserting that the army is annoyed over the release of some Taliban prisoners.

However, even if the government has wanted to free any such inmates, it can’t do so because all of them are in the custody of the army. Rebutting this vicious campaign, the interior minister has to say that the 19 Taliban prisoners were set free after consultations with the army.

If Nawaz Sharif indeed needs to rein in some of his ministers from unnecessary haranguing against Musharraf that is taken as criticism on the army, Raheel Sharif is required to hold back those elements in different agencies. Both have equal bigger responsibility to nip the evil of fueling confrontation in the bud. Everyone is well aware that Pakistan’s plate is full of paramount problems and it can’t brook any adventurism.

High state of preparedness required to face threats, says COAS

 

RAWALPINDI: The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif, has said that the multidimensional security threats faced by the country require a high state of preparedness at all times.
General Raheel was interacting with the troops during his visit to the Sonmiani Ranges on Friday where he witnessed air defence firing exercises, says a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations.

The full range of air defence weapons, including guns and surface to air missiles, were used in the exercise. The COAS greatly appreciated the professionalism of participating units and standards achieved in engaging aerial targets.

Gen Raheel emphasised that the highest standard of training and professionalism must remain our hallmark to accomplish the mission.Earlier, on arrival at the Range, the COAS was received by Commander Army Air Defence Command Lieutenant General Muhammad Zahid Latif Mirza.

Rasheed rejects reports of consultations with COAS over Musharraf

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Pervaiz Rasheed Thursday brushed aside reports as unfounded of government’s consultations with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in connection with General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

Talking to media persons here, Pervaiz Rasheed rubbishing the above reports in a section of media and press pointed out that Musharraf’s case is subjudice before a competent court.

“Any announcement in relation to Musharraf would be tantamount to being in clash with legal norms and principles of equality,” he added.

He said no decision has yet been made over Pervez Musharraf’s application for removal of his name from the Exit Control List (ECL).

Rasheed said it was a firm belief of the government that the armed forces represent a national institution and no compromise would be made on it in any circumstances.