ISLAMABAD: Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa on Wednesday vowed to completely eliminate the threat of terrorism from the country as the top military brass was briefed on recent incidents of terrorism, including those in Balochistan.

“We will eliminate all remnants of terrorists, their abettors and accomplices whatever is the cost,” Gen Bajwa said while presiding over the 247th Corps Commanders’ conference at the General Headquarters.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the armed forces, said that the participants of the meeting were comprehensively briefed on the recent incidents of terrorism and the steps being taken to foil rivals’ sinister design to destabilise the country.

An uptick in the violence has been witnessed in the country since last year and most of these attacks had been carried out against members of security forces. Most of the attacks had been perpetrated by religiously inspired militants and nationalist insurgents. A worrying trend witnessed this year has been intensification and sophistication of the attacks by Baloch separatists.

Over the past few weeks, the Baloch groups have carried out at least three major attacks — in Kech, Panjgur and Nushki.

Gen Bajwa and Prime Minister Imran Khan later visited the troops to applaud their operational preparedness because of which they successfully repulsed the attacks in Panjgur and Nushki and honour the soldiers who sacrificed their lives.

The commanders, the ISPR said, were apprised of the measures being taken to counter hostile efforts to destabilise the country.

“The forum paid tribute to the martyrs who gave ultimate sacrifice for the defence of the country while valiantly repulsing recent terrorist attacks in Balochistan and inflicting heavy losses on them,” the ISPR said.

“The COAS expressed satisfaction over operational preparedness of the formations and safeguards in place to thwart designs of inimical forces. The COAS said that we have come a long way in our fight against terrorism,” the ISPR added.

Gen Bajwa said that desperate attempts by terrorists to reestablish themselves won’t be allowed to succeed.

He directed all formations to concentrate on maintaining high standards of basic military training to ensure effective execution of operations in the conventional/sub-conventional domain.

Published in Dawn, February 10th, 2022