Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Tuesday chaired the 272nd Corps Commanders’ Conference (CCC) at the General Headquarters, reaffirming the Pakistan Army’s resolve to counter threats in all domains.
The session began with Fateha for the martyrs of recent attacks by Indian-sponsored terrorist groups. The COAS lauded the efforts of the armed forces in counter-terrorism and flood relief operations in coordination with civil authorities.
The forum reviewed ongoing counterterrorism operations and warned of the nexus between terrorism and criminality and political patronage, which undermines state security. Participants also expressed concern over provocative statements by Indian leaders, promising that any aggression would be met with a “swift and decisive response.”
In his statement, he paid tribute to the 11 Pakistan Army personnel, including Lt Col Junaid Arif and Major Tayyab Rahat, who were martyred during a high-intensity intelligence operation (IBO) in Orakzai district, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, on Tuesday evening.
Read: 11 Pakistan Army soldiers martyred in Operation Orakzai, KP
The operation targeted terrorists from the Indian-backed Fitna al-Khwarij group and involved an intense exchange of fire that neutralized 19 militants. Lt Col Arif and Major Rahat, both residents of Rawalpindi, led their troops from the front and embraced martyrdom alongside nine other soldiers.
The commanders reaffirmed continued operations against Indian-backed terrorist groups, including Fitna Al-Khawarij and Fitna Al-Hindustan, and welcomed the Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement with Saudi Arabia aimed at strengthening joint response capabilities.
The forum reiterated Pakistan’s support for Kashmir’s self-determination and the Palestinian cause, endorsing a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital.
In his closing remarks, the COAS directed commanders to maintain the highest standards of operational readiness, discipline, physical fitness and innovation, expressing full confidence in the Army’s ability to counter conventional, hybrid and asymmetric threats.
