Key Points
- Army chief says Pakistan will pursue “all facilitators, abettors and perpetrators of terrorism with full force”
- Field Marshal Asim Munir celebrated Eid al-Adha with troops deployed along the western frontiers
- Chief of Defence Forces says recent Quetta attack was carried out by “Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Hindustan and its proxies”
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff, Syed Asim Munir, has vowed that the country’s armed forces would continue pursuing “all facilitators, abettors and perpetrators of terrorism with full force.”
Celebrating Eid, following the recent militant attack in Quetta, with soldiers in the Zhob district of Balochistan, Field Marshal Munir said, foreign-sponsored cowardly terrorist attacks on civilians cannot shake Pakistan’s anti-terror resolve.
He spent his valuable time on Eid al-Adha with frontline troops deployed along Pakistan’s western frontiers, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Referring to the recent Quetta attack, the army chief said it had been orchestrated by “Indian-sponsored Fitna-al-Hindustan and its proxies.” Pakistan refers to the banned terrorist outfits in Balochistan sponsored by India as Fitna-ul-Hindustan.
The ISPR quoted him as saying that “such inhuman and brutal acts cannot weaken the resolve of Pakistan Armed Forces or the nation.”
“He emphasised that the morale and resolve of troops and the people of Pakistan remained unshaken,” the Inter-Services Public Relations added.
The statement said the armed forces, in close coordination with law enforcement agencies and the people of Balochistan, would continue operations against terrorist networks and their supporters.
The visit commenced with Eid prayers and “special supplications for Pakistan’s enduring peace, stability and prosperity,” it stated, adding, “Special prayers for the Shuhada, who rendered the ultimate sacrifice in defence of the motherland.”
Extending Eid greetings to officers and soldiers, the Field Marshal commended the troops’ “exceptional grit, unwavering resolve, operational preparedness and steadfast vigilance amid foreign-sponsored terrorism.”
He also praised their “unmatched courage and sacrifices in safeguarding the nation against the menace of terrorism and hostile threats sponsored by inimical forces.”
During the visit, Field Marshal Munir laid a floral wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada and paid homage to soldiers who embraced martyrdom in defence of the country.
Upon arrival in Zhob, he was received by the Commander Quetta Corps, the ISPR said.
