Aggression by India not to go unpunished: COAS

RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif on Thursday maintained that any deliberate or miscalculated aggression by India against Pakistan would not go unpunished.

“Any aggression, born out of deliberate intent or even a strategic miscalculation, will not be allowed to go unpunished and will be met with the most befitting response,” the army chief said at the graduation parade of 136 GD(P), 82 Engineering Course, 92 Air Defence, 17 Admin and Special Duties and one Logistics courses at the PAF Academy Risalpur. Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman, Chief of the Air Staff, was also present at the ceremony.

The COAS said that while Pakistan wants good relations with all its neighbours, no one should make any mistake about the nation’s collective resolve to defend the motherland.

He reiterated that he was confident that with the united resolve of the Pakistani nation and its armed forces, those inimical to regional peace will not be allowed to succeed. “Their evil plots and plans will “Their evil plots and plans will be defeated, Inshallah,” the army chief said.

General Raheel while referring to India’s falsehood and distortion of facts expected the international community to condemn Indian insinuations and fabrications about a nation that has made unparalleled contributions in the global fight against terrorism.

“We recently witnessed an unfortunate display of utter desperation playing out inside Occupied Kashmir and along the Line of Control (LoC) through a litany of falsehoods and distortion of facts by India,” he said.

The army chief also highlighted Pakistan’s successes in the war against terrorism and said that Pakistan is a responsible country and remains committed to follow the policy of friendship with all other countries based on the principles of equality and mutual respect.

“While doing so, the armed forces of Pakistan remain fully prepared to give the most befitting response to any kind of internal and external threat posed to our nation,” he said, adding, “Today we have achieved phenomenal success in uprooting the terrorist infrastructure from our soil. For sustainable peace we are now engaged in eliminating the residual threat in the form of facilitators and their sympathisers through intelligence based and combing operations all across the country,” General Raheel said. A total of 95 cadets, including six lady cadets, graduated at the occasion.

The COAS awarded branch insignias to the graduating cadets and also gave away trophies to the distinction holders. The chief guest awarded Quaid-i-Azam Banner to No 2 Squadron, the new champion squadron of the academy.

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Trophy for Best Performance in General Service Training was awarded to Aviation Cadet Wing Under Officer Muhammad Naimatullah. In College of Flying Training, Chief of Air Staff Trophy for best performance in Flying Training was also clinched by Aviation Cadet Wing Under Officer Muhammad Naimatullah. The coveted Sword of Honour for Overall Best Performance in College of Flying Training was awarded to Aviation Cadet Academy Under Officer Raza Ali. Trophies for overall best performance in 92 Air Defence, 17 Admin and Special Duties and 01 Logistics courses were won by Aviation Cadet Muhammad Yousaf, Aviation Cadet Mustansar Abbas and Aviation Cadet Syed Jawad Raza Rizvi respectively.

In College of Aeronautical Engineering, Chief of the Air Staff Trophy for best performance in Engineering was clinched by Aviation Cadet Muhammad Shajeeh Mustafa; whereas, the coveted Sword of Honour for Overall Best Performance in College of Aeronautical Engineering was awarded to Aviation Cadet Wing Under Officer Wahaj Amjad.