Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir has resolved that the Pakistan Army will hit India-backed terrorists “hard” as he visited Corps Headquarters, Peshawar, the military’s media wing said on Friday.
The CDF was briefed on the prevailing security situation, ongoing counter-terrorism operations, border management measures and operational preparedness of formations deployed in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
“Field Marshal [Asim Munir] commended the high morale and professionalism of officers and troops, directing them to continue vigilance and highest standards of operational readiness to effectively counter threats,” it added.
CDF Munir, the ISPR said, underscored that the military will continue the campaign against India-sponsored terrorist outfits “to the fullest and hit them hard wherever they are”.
“While paying tributes to the sacrifices of the people of Pakistan, including Shuhada and Ghazis of the security forces, the COAS & CDF affirmed that with the support of the people, Pakistan will surely inflict total defeat on the terrorists and their perverted ideology,” the statement added.
Separately, ISPR said on Friday that 10 India-sponsored terrorists were killed in separate engagements as security forces thwarted their attempts to “undermine the writ of the state” in Balochistan’s Gwadar district. In a statement, the military’s media affairs wing said: “On Oct 22, Indian-sponsored terrorists of Fitna al Hindustan attempted to carry out terrorist activities in district Gwadar, in the general areas of the Gabd Border Crossing and Gwadar city.”
“By targeting these locations, terrorists sought to harm the very people they claim to represent and wanted to obstruct the development and prosperity of Balochistan. To protect residents and clear the area, security forces launched clearance operations in and around Gwadar city,” ISPR said.
“In the ensuing exchanges of fire, ten terrorists, including one female terrorist, were sent to hell. During the terrorist attacks one civilian embraced shahadat (martyrdom) and [a] few vehicles were damaged. Operations were concluded without any loss to security forces, restoring order and writ of the state,” it said.
The statement further said that the coercion of a Baloch woman into the attack was “a crime not only against the state but against the hurmat (respect) of Baloch women”.
“It exposes the terrorists’ cynical exploitation of Baloch women as an instrument of propaganda, intended to inflame public sentiment and lend false sanctity to their campaign.
Such tactics are contrary to Baloch and Islamic traditions, which hold women in the highest honour. The people of Balochistan have consistently rejected those who shed blood in their name, and they will see through this deception as well,” it said. The statement said that the counterterror campaign would continue at full pace.
“Security forces and law enforcement agencies remain resolute in eliminating foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” it said.