Latest news with #Commanders'Conference
Express Tribune
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Pakistan Army warns India of 'sure, decisive' response to any act of war
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir chairs Special Corps Commanders' Conference (CCC) meeting at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on May 2, 2025. Photo: ISPR Listen to article The Pakistan Army has warned of a 'sure and decisive' response to any Indian attempt to impose war, following what it called provocative actions by New Delhi in the aftermath of the deadly Pahalgam attack, the military's media wing reported. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a Special Corps Commanders' Conference (CCC) was chaired by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on Friday amid heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. The conference comes after the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), which left 26 tourists dead. India has blamed Pakistan for the incident without presenting evidence, prompting Islamabad to categorically deny involvement and offer to participate in a 'credible and transparent investigation.' India responded with sweeping measures, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, revoking visas for Pakistani nationals, and closing the Wagah-Attari border crossing. In retaliation, Pakistan expelled Indian diplomats and military advisers, cancelled visas for Indian citizens, with the exception of Sikh pilgrims, and shut the border crossing from its side. During the military leadership's special session, the forum conducted a detailed review of the prevailing geo-strategic environment, with a focus on the Pakistan-India standoff and broader regional security concerns. The Pakistan Army reaffirmed its 'unflinching resolve to uphold the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country against any aggression or misadventure.' COAS Munir commended the 'unwavering professionalism, steadfast morale, and operational preparedness' of the armed forces, emphasising unity with the people of Pakistan to 'defend the homeland at all costs.' He stressed the importance of 'heightened vigilance and proactive readiness across all fronts.' The forum voiced 'grave concern over the intensification of Indian atrocities in IIOJK,' particularly after the Pahalgam incident, and condemned the 'continued targeting of innocent civilians along the Line of Control (LoC) by Indian occupation forces.' "It was reiterated that such inhumane and unprovoked acts serve only to escalate regional tensions and will be met with a resolute and proportionate response," the statement said. The commanders noted India's 'consistent pattern of exploitation of crises to achieve political and military objectives,' accusing it of following 'a predictable template, whereby internal governance failures are externalised.' The ISPR further stated: 'These incidents have often coincided with unilateral moves by India to alter the status quo, as seen in 2019 when India similarly exploited the Pulwama incident to unilaterally alter the status quo of IIOJK, through revocation of Article 370.' Referring to the current episode, the military said the Pahalgam attack 'appears to be part of a deliberate strategy to divert Pakistan's focus away from the western front, as well as ongoing national efforts for economic revival; the two fronts where Pakistan is decisively and sustainably gaining grounds.' "Such diversionary tactics aimed at providing operational breathing space to Indian terror proxies will never succeed," the forum declared. The army also expressed concern that India is attempting to weaponise water by exploiting the Pahalgam incident to undermine the Indus Waters Treaty. 'This constitutes a dangerous attempt to weaponise water, threatening the livelihood and sustenance of over 240 million Pakistanis and escalating strategic instability in South Asia," it warned. In addition, the forum voiced 'deep alarm over credible evidence of direct Indian military and intelligence involvement in orchestrating terrorist activities inside Pakistan,' describing them as 'state-sponsored actions' and 'a blatant violation of international norms which are universally unacceptable.' Reaffirming Pakistan's resolve, the military said, 'Deliberate destabilisation efforts by the Indian government will be confronted and defeated with resolve and clarity.' The conference concluded with COAS Munir expressing 'complete confidence in the operational readiness, deterrence posture, and morale of all formations and strategic forces to defend the nation across the entire threat spectrum.'
Express Tribune
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Army brass urges people-centric uplift in Balochistan
RAWALPINDI: The top military brass on Tuesday underscored the need for accelerating people-centric socioeconomic development initiatives in Balochistan, recognising the urgency of countering externally-driven narratives of exclusion. Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir presided over the 267th Corps Commanders' Conference at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The forum undertook a comprehensive review of the regional and internal security landscape, assessing the full spectrum of threats, the military said. According to a news release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the military, the meeting vowed to foil nefarious designs of the foreign-sponsored proxies, who were attempting to radicalise the youth of Balochistan. "No one will be allowed to disrupt peace in Balochistan and nefarious designs of foreign-sponsored proxies attempting to mislead and radicalise the youth of Balochistan will be decisively thwarted with the unwavering support of the people of Balochistan," the ISPR said. The meeting came just days after 18 servicemen were martyred, while fighting terrorists in the central Balochistan district of Kalat. The security forces also killed 23 terrorists, who were attempting to set up roadblocks in the district for their terrorist activities. After the incident, the army chief visited Balochistan on Saturday. Speaking on the occasion, he vowed to hunt down and defeat the so-called "frenemies", warning that terrorist proxies of their foreign masters "are well known to us". These so-called "frenemies", he added, "will surely be defeated". According to the ISPR, the conference recognised the urgency of countering externally-driven narratives of exclusion in the province. The forum stressed the need for accelerating people-centric socioeconomic development initiatives in Balochistan, the press release said. In solidarity with the resilient people of Kashmir on the eve of Kashmir Solidarity Day (today), the forum strongly condemned the continued blatant human rights violations in the Indian-Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), recognising those violations as a grave threat to regional peace and stability. Reiterating Pakistan's unwavering support for the legitimate struggle of the Kashmiri people for their right to self-determination, as enshrined in relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the forum emphasised the significance of international engagement in addressing those persistent violations. The participants discussed the prevailing situation along the Line of Control (LoC) and the Working Boundary. The forum took serious note of the recent reckless and provocative statements from the Indian military leadership, terming them "irresponsible and detrimental" to regional stability. "These hollow statements from Indian military are indicative of their growing frustration and serve only to divert the attention of their masses and international community from their multiple internal fissures and blatant violations of human rights," the Gen Asim Munir said, while addressing forum. "Pakistan Army remains fully prepared to defend the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the army chief said. "Any misadventure against Pakistan will be responded with full and resolute force of the state, InshaAllah." The ISPR press release said that the conference expressed grave concern over the continued use of Afghan soil by the Fitna al Khawarij – a term used for the terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) – for terrorist activities against Pakistan. "The forum stressed the imperative of concrete and tangible actions by Interim Afghan Government against Fitna Al Khawarij instead of denials as well as continuing with the strategy of undertaking all necessary measures in defence of Pakistan and its people," it added. At the outset of the meeting, the ISPR said, the participants paid profound tributes to the sacrifices made by the Shuhada of the armed forces, law-enforcement agencies, and the citizens who have laid down "their lives in pursuit of peace and stability of their beloved motherland". Commending the operational preparedness of all formations, the army chief emphasised the importance of sustained mission-oriented training, enhanced military cooperation, and the conduct of joint exercises in both conventional and counter-terrorism domains. Concluding the conference, Gen Asim Munir reaffirmed that the military leadership remained fully cognisant of the multifaceted challenges confronting the nation and was resolute in fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities with the steadfast support of the proud people of Pakistan. (WITH INPUT FROM APP)
