Army to preserve its own dignity and institutional pride: COAS

E-Paper | March 04, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif on Monday said that Pakistan Army upheld the sanctity of all institutions and would resolutely preserve its own dignity and institutional pride, during his visit to the headquarters of Special Service Group (SSG) at Ghazi Base, Tarbela.

Gen Sharif paid glowing tributes to the sacrifices of the SSG soldiers and officers and acknowledged their tremendous success while fighting against terrorists.

He said, Pakistan Army took pride in the brave and battle hardened Special Services Group who were ranked among the top elite forces of the world.

COAS also praised them for their outstanding professional skills, given the specialised nature of their employment in the most sensitive, complex and challenging environment, .

Speaking to SSG officers and soldiers, COAS said, Pakistan Army never had and never would shy away from rendering any sacrifice in ensuring a formidable defense and security of the motherland.

Drawing its strength from national support, with its characteristic coherence and resilience, Pakistan Army has contributed immensely towards national security and nation building and will continue to deliver on its mission, the Army chief added.

While our country is faced with multiple internal and external challenges, Pakistan Army upholds the sanctity of all institutions and will resolutely preserve its own dignity and institutional pride, General Sharif said while responding to the concerns of soldiers on undue criticism of the Institution in recent days.

Earlier on arrival, he was received by GOC SSG, Maj Gen Abid Rafiq.

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winston

Apr 07, 2014 04:18pm

Now they will let Musharraf go. Nawaz and the courts will give in.

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Ahsan

Apr 07, 2014 04:44pm

I love Pak Army... And I hate politicians ...!!!! Long Live Army , Long Live Musharaf....

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Khangul

Apr 07, 2014 04:54pm

You are also the pride of 180 million Pakistanis. Just ignore the worms who are trying to demean you.

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Salman

Apr 07, 2014 04:59pm

A message for Nawaz Sharif...

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Naseer

Apr 07, 2014 05:14pm

I had great respect and love for our armed forces. But now I see that army can not even protect its own Ex Chief who was a patriot and honest leader. Taliban attack GHQ, air force bases, Navy installations at will and without any retaliation. I wonder if army can really protect the country.

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Shaikh Mohommd

Apr 07, 2014 05:16pm

"Pakistan Army has contributed immensely towards national security" said Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif. National security depends upon two factors: [1] US drone strikes should stop [2] Army operations should be abandoned. Civilians will then feel secure. Otherwise whatever statements are issued will have no effect on the ground where areas are devastated and people become refugees as a result of drone strikes and Army operations. Peace will only return when the Army returns to the barracks and concentrate its energy on defending the country from US attack on Pakistan's sovereignty.

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M. Emad

Apr 07, 2014 05:23pm

1971 ...

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Amir

Apr 07, 2014 05:25pm

I wonder when have they done any good to the country. Here are the highlights of their sacrifices: 1. In 1971, India has captured 90,000 Pakistani soldiers. 2. MQM has been created by Gen. Zia to counter the Bhutto support in Sindh. 3. Bughti has been killed caused a upring is Balochistan. 4. U-turn on Kashmir by a Commando (Gen.Musharraf) 5. Lal Masjid Operation 6. Pakistani Taliban came into existence because of this Army. 7. PML-N has been divided into groups by Gen.Musharraf causing PPP to get enough vote bank to rule a country for 5 years. 8. Last 15 years have been wasted of country because of the army sacrifices. 9. Now if PML-N is doing a good work then this Monkey is again threatening the democratic Gov. If army respect was 90% in the heart of Pakistanis about 15 years ago then it must be 10% by now and if they keep in doing the same stuff then the day will not far away when people will raise up againt their own army. Shame on these monkies.

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Apr 07, 2014 05:25pm

Dear Gen. Raheel. Isn't like that a student abuses his principal in front of the school and principal let the boy go without punishing him. I think our army has become coward that whoever throws stones on them they just accept it with pleasure. At least the army should take strict hard action not verbal on there peoples if somebody try to take them in hands. Mr. Raheel Sharif ! whatever happened in Musharraf tenor Army was really strong that not that and not before no one open their mouths. But unfortunately army has become shameless during Mr. Kiyani tenor and now yours that no one is scared any more by Pakistan Army.

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fazal pai

Apr 07, 2014 06:09pm

Timely and to the point lines for the mice turned so called big bigs of the country.

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fazal pai

Apr 07, 2014 06:10pm

@Salman: and for others too.

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sara khan

Apr 07, 2014 06:20pm

Whatever happens around.....army will get support frm the nation ....v cant blame army now for the acts of the insane generals f the past...lets see what they r doing now ....they r getting better and they will get better....respect must be restored frm within the nation....its crucial

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Sami

Apr 07, 2014 06:30pm

Pakistanis have great respect for their Army. But the nation has seen it at back benches at many occasions when appropriate moment called them to stand on the front. We love Pakistan Army because it is the only hope that now exists.

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Amjad Wyne

Apr 07, 2014 06:35pm

@Shaikh Mohommd: Peace will return when the army eliminates the terrorists. Drones or no drones, army in barracks or outside, one thing must be clear, terrorists must be finished. They have killed more Muslims across the world and caused more damage to Muslim nations than the so called combined enemies of Islam.

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Apr 07, 2014 06:59pm

@sara khan: We all love Pakistan Army but when Army doesn't act like Army then how the one shall believe. So its a slow poison which Army is taking. You and me cannot come on street to abuse Army and if then You and Me will be Taken. So who does it He/She should be indicted so in future Army should be treated as Army. Its not how and who was in Army and what he did its all about respect, We love our Army but the respect is decreasing.

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Umair

Apr 07, 2014 07:00pm

@Amir: Wow. Your comprehension for the problems in Pakistan is at zub-zero levels. 1. Pakistan Army fought the baloch sepratist leader who was operating a brutal regime in der bhigti. 2. Lal masjid operation was against a burqa wearing extremist cowards who had hijacked the capital and were challenging th constitution. 3. Nawaz sharif bankrupt the country once and is bk to compelte the job, is negotiating with terrorists that are responsible for the lives of many innocent civilians and army personnel, has taken funding away from HEC so he can keep the country iliterate and ignoranct (like yourself) and keep duping them with hollow promises.

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Apr 07, 2014 07:08pm

@Amir a pathetic indian troll!

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Syed

Apr 07, 2014 07:41pm

Very well, General. We'll take you for your word. But then, don't talk to the Taliban. Eliminate them. Erase them from existence - and your dignity and institutional pride will be restored. You owe that to your fallen soldiers and also to your country.

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Aziz

Apr 07, 2014 08:09pm

"Pakistan Army upholds the sanctity of all institutions and will resolutely preserve its own dignity and institutional pride, " Well said General sahib. And this also includes the institution of the Constitution which no one has a God-given right to trample. The army should do their job and let others do theirs. The sovereign (the people of Pakistan) will reward with both respect and dignity.

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Khalid Feroz

Apr 07, 2014 08:20pm

Army rule has also been prevalent in other underdeveloped countries of the world like Ethiopia, Madagascar, Bumra etc etc. It is a sweet virus that gives some great thought of self-righteousness and invincibility to emotionally foolish self-professed great scholars of military history. Of course all ill fates of Pakistan have been attributed to civilian governments when army has ruled more than half of the time.

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immortal_soloist

Apr 07, 2014 08:26pm

Long live Pakistan Army and long live the true,honest and patriotic leader Pervez Musharraf.

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S.R. KHAN

Apr 07, 2014 09:19pm

@Khalid Feroz: First martial law was imposed in Pakistan in 1958. It means that the politicians were given 11 years to establish a democratic government but they failed.

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Abdul Mobin Khan

Apr 07, 2014 09:39pm

I salute pak army.....the only hope for the integrity, stability, honor, prosperity and progress of my homeland Pakistan. Statement given by army chief is very meaningful. I welcome.

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Ali Pakistani

Apr 07, 2014 10:18pm

Long Live Pakistan Army! The only institution which has integrity. We have tried these two main political parties several times and they have always disappointed us.

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Ahmer

Apr 07, 2014 10:21pm

Good words but the country today needs action to eliminate terrorism from its soil before it takes deeper roots and I do not see Gen Raheel doing much towards that goal.

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w.shaikh

Apr 07, 2014 10:30pm

Amir, I like your comments. Keep up the good work.

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Omer

Apr 07, 2014 11:23pm

@S.R. KHAN: Let's put things in correct historical perspective. 1st martial law was not imposed by Army or Ayub; it was imposed by a civilian president of the country, Iskandar Mirza. I wonder why people hold Army responsible for that!

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Asad

Apr 07, 2014 11:34pm

I wish the Army protected the dignity of the country and its constitution rather than just its own institution which it always did. You respect the above two, we will usher unconditional love unto you.

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Kazi

Apr 08, 2014 12:15am

@Omer: Iskandar Mirza was a Major General. Read history books before making such claim. and yes he was great grandson of Mir Jaffar also.

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Omer

Apr 08, 2014 03:31am

@Kazi: He never served in Army; was a civil servant. Major General was the honorary rank awarded to him by the govt. I wish you had read history before making this claim.

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independentthinker

Apr 08, 2014 03:50am

The words have been spoken - now let's see some action! No more negotiations with the insurgents - they either surrender unconditionally or our military wipes them off from the face of our country. Can our COAS do that? Can he promise that to the country, who is looking up to him for leadership. I have great faith in him - just waiting to see him deliver!

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Sensible

Apr 08, 2014 04:57am

@Umair : Well said! Thank God there are some sane ppl around.

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Omer

Apr 08, 2014 05:20am

@Kazi: I wonder whether to pity or muse at your ignorance. Iskander Mirza was a civil servant, served only for a short time (less than 6 yrs) in British Indian Army and left it to join Indian Political Service. Major General was the honorary rank bestowed upon him by Prime minister Liaquat Ali Khan. I wish you had read history before making this comment.

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Ikram

Apr 08, 2014 06:06am

Army rule is great in the begining, later down the road they become corrupt like their civilian counterparts. Pakistan should change it's constitution, whereby the population should choose by voting whether to have army or civilian rule every 4 years. A democratic system that would allow the army to rule without martial law. It would minimize corruption and produce a stable environment for the country.

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Haris uddin cowlas

Apr 08, 2014 07:30am

@Amir: dont forgot Black Day observed in Palestine against the aggression of Gen Zia killed 1000's of Palestinians with collaboration of Jordan King Hussain

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khan

Apr 08, 2014 07:49am

Enough is enough.Behave now.

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Omer

Apr 08, 2014 08:18am

@Kazi: I guess Dawn is consigning my response to the recycle bin. Iskander Mirza was a civil servant, served in British Indian Army as a young officer for six years before joining civil service in 1926. He never served in Pakistan Army. The rank of Major General was honorary, bestowed upon him by PM Liaquat Ali Khan in 1950. I wish you had read history before making this comment.

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Shahid Tanweer

Apr 08, 2014 09:27am

Action speaks louder than words but here words do the action louder - very interesting scenario - let us watch the funny faces of the 2 ministers and their new statements.

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Nizamuddin Ahmad Aali

Apr 08, 2014 09:54am

Let the general be reminded of his limitations under the constitution. He should not cross the line. He is under the elected leadership. Ayub, yahya, zia and Musharaf times are the thing of the past.

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Bin Ismail

Apr 08, 2014 05:29pm

@ Aziz

". . .this also includes the institution of the Constitution which no one has a God-given right to trample."

No one also has any God-given right to cold-bloodedly murder 60,000 humans.

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KHAN

Apr 08, 2014 09:55pm

@Nizamuddin Ahmad Aali: YOU THINK,THEY WILL ACCEPT ORDERS FROM THESE CORRUPT AND INCOMPETENT AND OF COURSE IMPOTENT POLITICIANS.WHO PREFFER TO GET ORDERS FROM SAUDIS AS IF THEY ARE OUR MASTERS.

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