RAWALPINDI: Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has said that the army’s constructive and positive role in the country’s national security and development has always received solid public support.
In an exclusive interview with Gulf News, the army chief said that they have restricted the army’s role to its constitutionally mandated task.
Army’s apolitical role
The army chief said that this decision will strengthen and reinvigorate democratic culture in the society and assist in supporting state organs to deliver effectively and help enhance the army’s prestige in the public eye in the long term.
He said that the army’s institutional determination to remain apolitical will remain in place.
He was confident that this will auger well for the country in the long- term and foster political stability and strengthen the bond between the army and the people of Pakistan.
The army chief urged the youth to shield themselves from being influenced by divisive and negative propaganda and information warfare that seeks to polarise society and erode mutual trust.
“Pakistan should always come first before anything,” he said adding that the country’s successful counter-terrorism drive has turned the tide against terrorism. He said that Pakistan and the army continue to make meaningful efforts to overcome the menace of extremism and put it to rest.
Answering a question, the army chief said that Pakistan has a special bond and fraternal ties with Gulf countries, which “is deep-rooted in our strong religious, historical and cultural affinity”.
He said that “our traditional ties with brotherly Arab states transcend beyond any cost-benefit calculus.” He said that ‘military diplomacy’ was complementary to the country’s foreign policy and played a due role in fostering Pakistan’s bilateral ties with other countries, including in middle eastern countries.
Gen Bajwa said that their intimate engagements with the Arab world at the leadership level had continuously helped nurture the long-standing relations and translate them into practical collaboration in areas of common and mutual interests.
The army chief said that Pakistan has always desired peaceful and friendly relations with neighbouring countries including Iran and tried to maintain a positive working relationship with all counties.
