Director General ISPR, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said the armed forces of Pakistan are fully aware of their professional responsibilities and there will be no compromise on national security.

Addressing a news conference in Rawalpindi today, he said it is need of the hour that we should play our individual and collective role to make Pakistan a stronger country and address the challenges effectively.

Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said only a secure Pakistan can guarantee a stronger Pakistan.

Giving detail of counter-terrorism operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan during the past eight months, the DG ISPR said thirty-two thousand, one hundred and seventy three intelligence-based operations were carried out during this period.

He said four thousand twenty-one operations were conducted during last month, killing 90 Khawarij.

The DG ISPR said over one hundred and thirty intelligence-based operations are conducted on daily basis by the army, intelligence, police, and o
ther law enforcement agencies.

He said 193 soldiers and officers of Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom during the past eight months. The entire nation pays glowing tribute to valiant sons of the soil and their families.

The DG ISPR vowed that the war against terrorism will continue till the elimination of last Khawarij terrorist from the country.

Referring to recent terrorist attacks in Balochistan, he said those who carried out these attacks have nothing to do with Islam, humanity and Baloch norms.

Giving a clear message to terrorists and their facilitators, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said the State will deal the enemies of people and development process with iron hands. He said the blood of every Pakistani is sacred and will not be allowed to go in vain.

About process of self-accountability in the Pakistan Army, the DG ISPR said proceedings for the Court Martial General against Retired Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed are underway. He said Pakistan Army is a national Army with no political ag
enda. He said neither it supports nor opposes any political party. He said there is a consensus that Pakistan Army, being a national and state institution, will not be allowed to be used for any political or personal interests.

Answering a question, the Director General ISPR said the army, intelligence and other law enforcement agencies have so far cleared over forty-six thousand square kilometers of area and there is no “no go area” in Pakistan.

He said the campaign against terrorism has four phases, which include clear, hold, build and transfer. He said the armed forces have successfully completed the phases of clear and hold. He said now there is a need to complete other two phases of build and transfer with the local and provincial governments in the lead.

He said it is responsibility of the civilian authorities to undertake socio-economic projects of health, education and employment for the welfare of the general public.

Source: Radio Pakistan