September 16, 2008	Tuesday	Ramazan 15, 1429

ISLAMABAD, Sept 15: Chief of the Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said that no odds could shake Pakistan Army’s resolve to pursue its obligations to national defence.

He made the statement during a visit to forward posts on the Line of Actual Contact and the Line of Control in Northern Areas. He was accompanied by Corps Commander Lt-Gen Mohsin Kamal, says an ISPR press release issued on Monday.

The army chief met troops deployed at the world’s highest battlefield of Siachen and surrounding areas on the Line of Actual Contact and praised them for braving rigours of terrain and inhospitable weather in defending the country’s frontiers.“The nation holds you in high esteem. This national support was crucial to synergise national effort.”

Gen Kayani asked the troops to devote themselves fully to enhancing their professional skill, maintain the highest state of preparedness and never lower their guard. He said that there was a national consensus on the Kashmir issue.

Earlier, the army chief was given a briefing on operational preparedness by General Officer Commanding Maj-Gen Muzammil Hussain.