KAKUL – Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Qamar Javed Bajwa said onSaturday that the route to peaceful resolution of Pak-India disputes,including the core issue of Kashmir ran through comprehensive andmeaningful dialogue.
“While such dialogue is no favour to any party, it remains theinevitable precursor to peace across the region. Pakistan remains committedto such a dialogue, but only on the basis of sovereign equality, dignityand honour,” he said while addressing the passing out parade of 137th PMALong Course, 8th Mujahid Course and 56th Integrated Course here at PakistanMilitary Academy, Kakul.
The COAS said that Pakistan was a peace loving country and it soughtharmonious and peaceful co-existence with all countries, especially itsneighbours. “However, this desire for peace must not, in any sense, beconstrued as a sign of weakness. Our valiant armed forces are Alhamdulillahfully prepared to respond across the full spectrum of threat in a befittingmanner,” he said.
“I also take this opportunity to express our complete political and moralsupport to the basic right of self-determination for the people of Jammuand Kashmir. Those peace loving innocent citizens are being subjected toone of the worst form of state terrorism,” the Army Chief said.He said that it was high time for the world community to wake up and playits positive role to bring peace to that unfortunate part of theSub-Continent.
He said Pakistan was also committed to peace and intra-Afghanreconciliation efforts in Afghanistan at all bilateral and multilateralforums. “We sincerely believe that there will be no peace in Pakistan, ifthere is no peace in Afghanistan. Our peace is linked, therefore, we mustwork in unison with our Afghan brothers to achieve this goal.
“Moreover, we have done our part to cleanse Pakistan of the scourge ofterrorism and extremism without any distinction and our efforts havestarted to bear results. We are committed to continue these efforts, notout of any compulsion, but to make Pakistan a safe, prosperous andprogressive country,” he added.General Qamar Javed Bajwa said that Pakistan armed forces were thecustodians and upholders of this resolve – a resolve that was evident inthe sacrifices of young men and officers. He called upon all thestakeholders within the region and beyond to let give peace a chance.
He said that Pakistan had totally rejected extremism and terrorism. “Wealso refuse to be pulled asunder on issues of sect, ethnicity, caste orcreed,” he said.He said that the diversity of Pakistan was its strength stating, “The veryresilience of Pakistan comes, not just from our military capacity, but fromthe synergetic mix of a people who have come together, willingly towards asingle purpose.”
He said that Pakistan’s enemies knew that they could not beat it fair andsquare and had thus subjected it to a cruel, evil and protracted hybridwar. “They are trying to weaken our resolve by weakening us from within.Had it been any nation than ours, it would have disintegrated by now. Butsince we enjoy complete confidence and support of our nation, we havedefeated every move of these inimical forces and will Insha ALLAH, continueto do so,” headded.
The Army Chief reiterated that Pakistani nation and its armed forces weretotally united and focused towards their primary objective of eradicationand elimination of terrorism. As a result of past and ongoing operations,he said Pakistan had eliminated almost allorganized terrorist presence and infrastructure from its soil.
“We are now going after the residual and scattered traces of this menaceunder the banner of Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad.He said that Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad was not merely an operation; it was aconcept, a resolve and a commitment of the nation to eradicate tumult fromits soil. “Operation Radd-ul-Fasaad is guided by our collective resolve andbelief that we will neither tire nor relent until the last terrorist iseliminated from our soil.
Moreover, we are committed not to allow our soil to be used against anyother country,” he added. – APP