RAWALPINDI: The military leadership expressed grave concerns over ongoing cross-border violations from Afghanistan and terrorism emanating from Afghan soil.
During the 83rd Formation Commanders Conference at GHQ in Rawalpindi, presided over by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir, the leadership noted that adversaries were exploiting Afghanistan to target security forces and civilians within Pakistan. Acknowledging the sacrifices of the people from newly merged districts in the fight against terrorism, the commanders emphasized the need to uplift these areas to decisively defeat terrorism.
The conference, attended by corps commanders, principal staff officers, and all formation commanders of the Pakistan Army, included briefings on the geostrategic environment, national security challenges, and the army’s strategy to counter multi-domain threats. Discussions also covered technological innovations for modernizing the army and optimizing logistic support for field formations in response to the evolving operational environment.
The military leadership underscored that “politically motivated and vested digital terrorism” against state institutions aims to create discord among national institutions and the populace by spreading lies, fake news, and propaganda. The forum specifically highlighted that such digital terrorism, driven by conspirators and supported by foreign collaborators, seeks to induce despondency in the nation and undermine the armed forces’ relationship with the people.
According to Inter-Services Public Relations, the forum affirmed the nation’s awareness of these “ugly and ulterior motives” and committed to defeating these nefarious forces comprehensively. The commanders stressed the importance of bringing to justice the planners, perpetrators, abettors, and facilitators of the May 9 violence for the country’s collective good. They warned that without swift and transparent justice, and the establishment of the rule of law, the country’s stability would remain vulnerable to such elements.
The forum pledged continued support for government initiatives in various domains to foster sustainable economic growth and curb illegal activities, including smuggling, hoarding, electricity theft, implementing the One Document Regime, dignified repatriation of illegal foreigners, and protecting the national database.
The ISPR statement highlighted the need for socio-economic development in Balochistan to counter foreign-propagated narratives of exclusion, which are exploited by foreign-sponsored proxies to mislead the province’s youth away from peace and progress.
Reviewing the situation on the eastern border and the latest extrajudicial killings in India-held Kashmir, the forum expressed solidarity with the Kashmiri people in their struggle for self-determination as enshrined in UNSC Resolutions. Concern was also voiced over the treatment of minorities, especially Muslims, in India, noting the rising fascism for political gain. The forum also expressed solidarity with the people of Palestine, condemning the human rights violations and war crimes in Gaza, and supported the International Court of Justice’s decision to halt the Rafah Operation and other operations in the Gaza Strip.
COAS General Syed Asim Munir commended the high training standards displayed during various exercises and the exemplary performance of officers and troops in counter-terrorism operations. He praised the formations for their high morale and constant operational readiness.
The participants expressed satisfaction with the measures taken for the training, administration, and welfare of serving and retired officers and troops. The forum noted the significant milestone achieved by Pakistan on Youm-e-Takbeer and its stabilizing impact on the region. Concluding the conference, the participants offered prayers and paid tribute to the sacrifices of the martyrs, including armed forces personnel, law enforcement agencies, and citizens, reaffirming their resolve to neutralize all threats to the country’s security and stability with the full support of the nation.
