Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa while speaking to Baloch students in Rawalpindi on Thursday promised the army's support for development of Balochistan, stressing that the province's progress is vital for the growth of Pakistan.

The army chief met a group of 173 students and their families at the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate

"Pakistan cannot succeed, Pakistan cannot develop if there is no cohesion between all the federating units," Gen Bajwa said.

The army chief asked the students to "never be misguided by anti-state propaganda [that is] being engineered by certain anti-state elements" and focus on their education.

The COAS said that education is Pakistan's "national policy" and assured the students that the armed forces would "wholeheartedly" support all academic initiatives in the province. Declaring the youth as the country's most "precious asset", he said that the army is "committed to provide [the students] a safe, secure and stable Pakistan".

Gen Bajwa also told the students of the development projects initiated in the province by the army with the government's support that include communication infrastructure, schools and cadet colleges.

The army chief told the students that a NUST university campus announced in Feb 2016 would be set up in Quetta soon.

"We have to enhance the capacity so people can go and serve in Balochistan," he said.