Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited Pakistan Army field areas in northern Punjab and Sindh to physically witness the ongoing training exercises of troops on Saturday. While addressing the officers and soldiers in field areas, the Army Chief said that realistic and futuristic training corresponding to evolving threats was imperative for maintaining operational readiness. According to the Pakistan Army media wing, the COAS attended the closing session of the Corps level war game at Sialkot where he was briefed on planning parameters and conduct modalities of the exercise. It was informed that the war game was based on defensive operations cycle of a corps under conventional battlefield environment in line with Operational and Planning Directives of Pakistan Army. Later, Army Chief visit the training area at Kotli, where he attended the concluding ceremony of Corps level Field exercise “Takskheer-e-Jabal”. Corps Commander Lieutenant General Azhar Abbas brief the Army Chief regarding conduct of ongoing exercise aimed at enhancing troops preparedness for various defensive and offensive maneuverings in mountainous and semi mountainous terrain. Army Chief also witnessed the troops practical demonstration of tactical and operational responses to various contingencies under testing conditions. COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa appreciated sound planning and befitting application of varying operational response options to crystallize future plans in view of evolving threat matrix. Since the creation of Pakistan in 1947, Pakistan has experienced continuous tension on its two borders, East with India and the West with Afghanistan. The Kashmir dispute remained a bone of contention between the two neighbors Pakistan and India and working relations at Eastern border never remained stable over the decades. Whereas Western Afghan border remained inflamed due to Afghanistan’s hostile approach toward the state of Pakistan and internal unrest in the neighboring Country before 1979. Later, due to Soviet and American Invasion on Afghanistan, Pak-Afghan border attracted international attention due to involvement of big powers in the region. The uncertain and grave geopolitical situation of the region and involvement of world powers created great challenges for Pakistan and its military. International power politics rendered the country to external and internal security challenges at the same time after 2000.
American invasion of Afghanistan ignited a wave of terrorism threat across the country specifically hit the FATA region and turned the Pak-Afghan into a war like situation. India took advantage of the worsening situation inside Pakistan and went to strengthen its stronghold over Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Pakistan Army reimagined its war strategy in the context of new emerging threats and evolved rigorous training for its troops in different geographical terrains and environment throughout the year. Pakistan Army leadership has laid down the new Army war doctrine and successfully transformed the Pakistani Army into a modern kinetic fighting force. Pakistan Army successfully defeated the menace of terrorism in the country. Pakistan has a dynamic Army capable of defending the country from all conventional and nonconventional threats of the modern era. Pakistani nation acknowledges the services of its valiant Defence Forces and their multiprong endeavors for the security and sovereignty of the country. We would like to say to our young warriors that keep your morale high during this hot weather because your watery fluid during peacetime would save the lifeblood during war.
