PESHAWAR: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Asim Munir visited Miramshah and Tarbela on Friday, a statement issued by the military’s media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

The army chief laid a floral wreath at the martyrs’ monument and paid homage to brave soldiers who laid down their lives while defending the motherland, the statement added.

The army chief also visited frontline tro­ops deployed along the Pak-Afghan border and commended the professionalism, mor­ale and operational readiness of the force.

The COAS was briefed by field commanders on the latest security situation in the area and the response mechanisms to counter terrorist threats.

Hails the ‘sacrifices’ of SSG commandos

“Pakistan Army remains focused on the evolving security situation and determined to take the battle to the terrorists and break nexus with their facilitators so as to ensure lasting peace through socio-economic development,” the statement quoted the COAS as saying.

“Pakistan Army will consolidate the hard-earned peace, made possible by the supreme sacrifices of the resilient nation and law enforcement agencies,” the statement added.

Later, Gen Munir also visited the Special Services Group’s (SSG) headquarters and met officers and soldiers including the elite Zarrar company, whose soldiers carried out the operation at the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) centre in Bannu.

The COAS praised the “indomitable spi­rit, sacrifices and commitment to the duty” of SSG personnel, the statement read.

“SSG is the pride of the nation and it has proved its mettle over the years,” the statement quoted Gen Munir as saying.

Upon his arrival, the COAS was received by Commander Peshawar Corps Lt Gen Hassan Azhar Hayat.

The army chief’s visit has come at a time when Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s districts, esp­ecially tribal areas bordering Afghanistan are seeing a surge in terrorist attacks.

Last week, terrorists from the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan took security personnel hostage after taking over the CTD centre in Bannu.

After a 48-hour-long standoff, the centre was cleared by SSG commandos who eliminated all terrorists.

In another attack on Dec 14, three civilians were killed and 14, including nine security personnel, were wounded in a suicide attack in the Sargardan area of North Waziristan.

Published in Dawn, December 24th, 2022