PESHAWAR: Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif said on Friday that the country’s armed forces were fully capable of countering any internal and external threat.

“Let there be no doubt that Pakistan armed forces are battle-hardened and fully capable to counter any internal or external threat posed to the integrity and sovereignty of our beloved country,” Gen Sharif said during a visit to the Frontier Corps Headquarters at Bala Hisar Fort here.

At the FC headquarters, he was received by Corps Commander of Peshawar Lt Gen Khalid Rabbani and Inspector General of Frontier Corps Maj Gen Ghayur Mahmood.

The visit came days after the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed that it had killed 23 kidnapped FC soldiers.

The TTP’s claim caused public outcry and led to suspension of dialogue between the government and a Taliban nominated committee.

Gen Raheel’s statement came against the backdrop of a statement of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan who claimed to have been told by former army chief retired Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani that a military operation in the volatile North Waziristan had a success chance of only 40 per cent.

The PTI chief’s controversial statement was rebutted by the government which has maintained that Imran Khan misunderstood the statement of Gen Kayani made at a meeting also attended by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

According to the government, Gen Kayani had actually said that an operation could immediately bring down the number of terrorism incidents by 40 per cent.

Recounting security forces’ successes in various operations against terrorists, Gen Sharif lauded efforts and determination of all troops and law-enforcement agencies for clearing affected areas with the help of local population and support of the nation. “We are fully prepared to confront any challenge in future as well,” the army chief said.

Gen Sharif interacted with soldiers and appreciated their spirit and high morale. He said the entire nation acknowledged sacrifices rendered by soldiers as part of national efforts to eliminate the scourge of terrorism from the country. He assured them that their sacrifices would not go waste.

APP adds: The army chief said that Pakistan’s nuclear programme occupied a central place in defence of the country.

During his visit to the headquarters of Army Strategic Force Command, Gen Sharif was given detailed briefing on operational and security matters by its Commander Lt Gen Obaidullah, according to an ISPR press release issued here.