Will respond to hostile actions along our frontiers: COAS

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, while appreciating high state of operational readiness and morale of troops on Tuesday, asserted that any hostile action anywhere along the country's frontiers shall be responded "most befittingly," in spite of desire for peace with our neighbours.

The COAS today presided over the 75th annual formation commanders' conference held at the General Headquarters (GHQ), according to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

The forum, attended by all general officers of the Pakistan Army, was briefed on geo-strategic environment, progress of operation Radd-ul-Fasaad, operational preparedness against conventional threat and other matters concerning national security.

General Bajwa said the budding state of stability achieved after countless sacrifices by the security forces, law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and by the nation shall be consolidated to have a normalised Pakistan.

Referring to his recent visits to frontline field formations along the eastern and western frontiers, the army chief appreciated the high state of operational readiness and morale of troops, especially demonstrated in response to recent border violations, the ISPR said in a statement.

He said that not-with-standing our desire for enduring peace with our neighbours, any hostile action anywhere along our frontiers shall be responded most befittingly.

The forum also deliberated on the situation in FATA, recent measures for better Pak-Afghan border management and impending FATA reforms, and reiterated requirement of the reform process in line with aspirations of people of FATA, the statement read.

Improving situation of Balochistan was also deliberated upon, it added. The conference reiterated its resolve to continue meaningful contributions towards stability and progress of the province with support of its people.

Discussing progress and security of CPEC, the participants stressed on maintaining focus on further securing environment for timely progress of this vitally significant mega initiative.

The forum agreed that operations in Karachi, Punjab and elsewhere will be continued until achievement of sustainable stability. The participants expressed their complete satisfaction with the steps taken at Army level.

They also voiced their resolve to protect geographical and ideological frontiers of the country.