ISLAMABAD – Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa in ameeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan had said in categorical terms thatlike other institutions, the army too is a subordinate institution of thegovernment.

Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament House earlier today, ChaudhryFawad, the Information Minister has said.

The COAS General Bajwa said the army is bound to implement policies framedby the civilian government.

The army top brass briefed the Prime Minister and federal ministers onimportant security and defence-related issues during the GHQ visit,Chaudhry said.linklink

The info minister said that policy-making is the privilege of the electedgovernment but it has to bring all stakeholders on board in order toformulate policies.

Fawad Chaudhry said Pakistan desires to further strengthen its ties withits neighbours, and emphasised the need for peaceful relations with India.

Pakistan wants stability in Afghanistan and normalisation of ties withIndia, which remains an important agenda of the government, he said, addingthat instead of confrontation, Pakistan and India should join hands tofight their common enemy of poverty.

The minister noted that Saudi Arabia is a strategic partner of Pakistan,and the country also wants to maintain good relations with Iran, UnitedStates and the Russian Federation.

He said the dream of Prime Minister Imran Khan to lift people out ofpoverty cannot be realised without increased interaction with Central AsianRepublics.

About China, Chaudhry said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)serves as a geo-economical pact between the two countries. He reiteratedthat the government is committed to complete CPEC projects.

There are energy projects worth $22 billion besides infrastructure projectsworth $6 billion under the CPEC, he shared, adding that projects worth Rs42billion have yet to be undertaken under the pact.