RAWALPINDI, May 21: President General Pervez Musharraf has said that the policies followed in the past five years have ensured Pakistan’s security, safeguarded its strategic assets and resulted in an economic turnaround. A strong defence and stable economy were important pillars to ensure the sovereignty and security of the country, he said addressing at the installation ceremony of Lieutenant-General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, director-general Inter Services Intelligence, as Colonel Commandant of the Baloch regiment. The ceremony was held at the Baloch Regimental Centre, Abbottabad.

The government, through concrete steps taken for enlightened moderation, had projected the true image of Islam as a religion of peace and tolerance at international level, he said. Pakistan, he said, had an impregnable defence and due to concerted efforts, the state of the economy was fast improving.

The prevailing international and regional situation demanded that all decisions be taken prudently, without emotionalism and in the best interests of the country, he said. President Musharraf and outgoing Colonel Commandant Lieutenant-General (Rtd) Syed Parwaiz Shahid pinned the badges of rank on the shoulders of Lieutenant-General Kayani and presented him with the regimental cap to formally install him as the 15th Colonel Commandant of the Baloch Regiment.—APP