Rawalpindi: Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has emphatically stated that Pakistan will protect its sovereignty and core national interests decisively and without hesitation.
Addressing Pakistan Navy Midshipmen and Short Service Commission Course parade in Karachi on Saturday, he said let it be known to all inimical forces who harbor nefarious designs against Pakistan that we are ever ready in our resolve to defend our motherland at all costs.
Referring to India’s recent unprovoked aggression and Pakistan’s crushing response to it, the Chief of Army Staff said the successes of Marka-e-Haq shall never recede from Indian memory.
He said our national spirit has only strengthened manifold in the face of adversity.
Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir said as we steadily build our comprehensive national path, any enemy acting on perceived vulnerability of Pakistan under the illusion of strategic impunity would get an assured, swift and very befitting response.
The Chief of Army Staff said in recent years, India has twice undertaken acts of unprovoked aggression against Pakistan which were met with our resolute response.
Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir said despite grave provocations, Pakistan acted with restraint and maturity, and demonstrated its commitment to regional peace and stability leading to its role as net regional stabilizer.
He however categorically stated that the assumption that Pakistan would have constraints in the face of any future violation of its sovereignty reflects a dangerous misleading of strategic fundamentals. He said onus of ensuing escalation that may bear catastrophic consequences for the entire region will squarely lie with the aggressor.
The Chief of Army Staff said we will take our fight against terrorism to its logical conclusion and get rid of this menace in all its forms and manifestations. He said our adversaries have only made us emerge stronger.
On the occasion, the Chief of Army Staff made mention of the sacrifices of people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s moral, political and diplomatic support to Kashmiri people for their right to self-determination.
He said the world must realize that without just and peaceful resolution of long pending Kashmir dispute, regional peace will forever remain elusive.
Directing his address to the participants of training course, the Chief of Army Staff appreciated the Pakistan Naval Academy for providing quality training to cadets from Pakistan and friendly countries.
He said participation of cadets from Bahrain, Iraq, Palestine, Djibouti and Turkiye is a reflection of the high standard of training at Pakistan Naval Academy.
Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir said in view of evolving spectrum of naval challenges, it is imperative for Pakistan to maintain a strong and effective maritime force.
He said Pakistan Navy’s role in ensuring the security of the global sea lines as an important regional maritime power has a long history.
He urged the naval officers to continue improving and strengthening their operational capabilities.
On the occasion, he distributed prizes among best performing cadets. The commissioning term of 123rd Midshipmen and 31st Short Service Commission Course included 127 midshipmen, 19 from Bahrain, 4 from Iraq and 2 from Palestine. In addition, 23 cadets of the Short Service Commission Course were also part of the commissioning term.
Earlier, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf welcomed Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on his arrival at the Naval Academy.
