RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday said Pakistan has made every possible effort to facilitate Afghan peace process leading towards a negotiated settlement with utmost sincerity and will continue to do so.
Chairing Corps Commanders’ Conference in Rawalpindi, the army chief said all stakeholders have to play their part positively for enduring peace in Afghanistan which is pivotal for stability in the region. He said misperceptions and scapegoating must be avoided to counter designs of spoilers.
The army chief expressed satisfaction over stringent measures being taken for ensuring effective border control as part of the comprehensive Border Management Regime and asked for high level of vigil along the western border.
He also commended formations for maintaining high standards of operational readiness and providing sustained support to civil administration during ongoing national efforts against COVID-19, monsoons, and the national polio drive.
Taking a holistic view of the multifarious security challenges faced by Pakistan in various domains in the evolving milieu, the forum underscored the need for adopting a whole of nation approach.
The participants took comprehensive review of the global, regional, and domestic security environment. The forum was given a detailed briefing on the evolving situation along Pak-Afghan border, implications on Pakistan’s internal security, particularly in the western zone, and measures being taken to tackle emerging challenges.
The development comes after the Afghanistan government removed Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai from his post. Ahmadzai has been replaced by General Hebatullah Alizai as the new Afghanistan army chief.
In an earlier development, two more cities — other than the six that were seized by the Taliban earlier within a couple of days — fell to the insurgents with one of them only 200kms away from Kabul. The Taliban have confirmed capturing the two cities.
