Army’s top leadership asserted on Tuesday that peace and stability in the region were intrinsically linked to collective restraint, responsibility and respect for sovereignty, a statement issued by the military’s media affairs wing after the 275th Corps Commanders’ Conference said.

Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir presided over the meeting at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) said.

The military leadership’s observation comes against the backdrop of a conflict between the US and Iran. It began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February and later broadened into a regional crisis, involving disruption of traffic in shipping lanes attacks on Gulf countries.

The conflict is paused for now, following a fragile ceasefire that continues to be tested.

The Corps Commanders’ Conference, while deliberating on the broader regional security environment, “noted that emerging geopolitical developments carry significant implications for regional stability,” the ISPR statement said.

The top brass emphasised the importance of restraint and “avoidance of escalation” and “acknowledged Pakistan’s continued responsible role in advocating stability and supporting efforts aimed at preventing further deterioration of the situation”.

As per ISPR, the conference “reiterated that peace and stability in the region are intrinsically linked to collective restraint, responsibility and respect for sovereignty”.

Chairing the meeting, CDF Munir “expressed satisfaction over the high standards of operational preparedness, professionalism, and combat readiness of Pakistan’s armed forces”.

He commended “commanders and formations for their unwavering commitment, vigilance, and success” in counter-terrorism operations across the country.

Operation Ghazab lil-Haq

The ISPR statement said the meeting comprehensively reviewed the internal and external security environment and “resolved to maintain current operational tempo to decisively dismantle terrorist networks, disrupt their support infrastructure, and deny them any operational space within Pakistan”.

Participants of the meeting also noted “continued degradation of terrorists and their support infrastructure” by means of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq.

Operation Ghazab lil-Haq was launched by Pakistan’s armed forces on the night of Feb 26 following cross-border firing by the Afghan Taliban. The military action also targets terrorists’ hideouts.

Islamabad has repeatedly accused Kabul of providing space to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban. UN monitoring reports over the past two years have noted the TTP’s presence in eastern Afghanistan, though the Taliban deny offering support to them.

According to ISPR, the Corps Commanders’ Conference noted that the “irrational and perverted policy of the Afghan Taliban regime to provide safe havens to khawarij and other terrorist organisations, with total disregard to [the] interests of [the] Afghan people, is increasingly backfiring and stands fully exposed”.

ISPR said that the forum also took note of the “propaganda campaign” by the Afghan Taliban to “falsely portray Pakistan as targeting civilians inside Afghanistan”.

The army’s top brass termed “such misleading narratives a part of a coordinated disinformation strategy by the regime to distract attention from their internal failures and play [the] victim card”.

“The forum categorically rejected these frivolous allegations and reaffirmed that Pakistan’s defensive actions remain focused, precise, and directed solely against infiltrators, terrorist hideouts and support infrastructures,” the ISPR statement said.

Marka-i-Haq

ISPR added that participants of the meeting also congratulated the nation and the armed forces on the first anniversary of Marka-i-Haq, recognising it as a “defining moment reflecting national unity, collective resolve, and an unyielding commitment to safeguard Pakistan’s sovereignty at all costs”.

Marka-i-Haq refers to the period of conflict between Pakistan and India last year. It began with the Pahalgam attack in occupied Kashmir on April 22 and ended with the conclusion of Pakistan’s Operation Bunyanum Marsoos and a ceasefire on May 10.

According to ISPR, the conference underscored that the “national commemoration of Marka-i-Haq serves as a clear message to [the] Indian hubristic political mindset that the Pakistani nation stands united, resilient, and fully prepared”.

“It signifies the unshakeable harmony between the people, government and armed forces of Pakistan, which stand together as ‘Bunyanum Marsoos’ against all internal and external challenges.”

Moreover, the military’s top brass “strongly condemned ongoing atrocities, extrajudicial killings, and demographic changes” in India-occupied Kashmir, reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering diplomatic, political, and moral support for the just struggle of the Kashmiri people, the statement said.

It further stated that the forum paid rich tribute to the “martyrs of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies, and innocent civilians who laid down their lives in defence of the motherland”.

“Paying profound tribute to their unmatched sacrifices, the forum reaffirmed that the enduring legacy of the martyrs continues to serve as the bedrock of Pakistan’s national security, unity, and resilience,” the statement read.

Concluding the meeting, CDF Munir “directed commanders to maintain the highest levels of vigilance, operational readiness, and adaptability in the face of evolving threats”.

He emphasised the need for “continued focus on professional excellence, integrated response mechanisms, and proactive measures to counter both conventional and non-conventional challenges”, the ISPR statement said.