PM Imran, COAS visit LoC, meets troops and families of martyrs

RAWALPINDI: Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited the Line of Control (LoC) on Friday, the eve of Defence and Martyrs day which was also declared as a day of solidarity with Kashmiris.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak and Chairman Kashmir Committee Syed Fakhar Imam accompanied the prime minister.

During the visit, the prime minister was briefed on the ongoing situation at the Line of Control, where he also interacted with local victims of Indian ceasefire violations and troops.

During his interaction, the prime minister lauded the troops' state of readiness, their effective response to Indian ceasefire violations, and the high morale of the Pakistani soldiers.

Speaking to families of martyrs and injured, the prime minister lauded their decades of resilience.

"India's deliberate targeting of unarmed civilians in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the continued siege of innocent Kashmiris in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir are worst examples of human rights violations," he said.

"Pakistan firmly stands with Kashmiris for their right of self-determination.

"While our current efforts are to expose fascist Indian regime to the world, our armed forces remain fully capable and prepared to thwart any Indian misadventure or aggression," he added.