Prime Minister Imran Khan and Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa pictured at the Shuhada Monument.
Prime Minister Imran Khan and Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa pictured at the Shuhada Monument.

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday thanked Prime Minister Imran Khan for “reposing confidence” in the army during the latter’s first visit to the General Headquarters for a briefing on matters pertaining to national security.

“COAS thanked PM for his visit and posing confidence in the army. COAS assured that Pakistan Army shall InshaAllah continue to deliver on nation’s expectations of defending the motherland at all costs and sacrifices,” the Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement.

Prime Minister Khan praised the army for its “professionalism, operational readiness, and contributions and sacrifices” in the fight against terrorism.

The visit was announced by the ISPR through a tweet, saying: “Prime Minister Imran Khan arrived to visit GHQ. Received on arrival by COAS. PM being briefed on defence, internal security and other professional matters.”

Imran briefed at GHQ on defence, internal security, counterterrorism operations

The briefing given to the civilian leadership covered security environment, threat spectrum and response, counterterrorism operations, the situation in Karachi and the Khushal Balochistan programme.

The external challenges pertain to the threat posed by India, the India-US nexus that is growing in strength in the region and the presence of terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan. Issues faced by the country in the region also have a strong bearing on its external relations. On the internal front ailing economy and terrorism/extremism are two of the most important threats to national security.

PM Khan said the country would overcome these challenges through “a cohesive national approach” and “support of the nation”. He vowed to fully resource army’s requirements.

The prime minister was accompanied during his visit to the military headquarters by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak, Finance Minister Asad Umar, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry and Minister-designate of State on Interior Shehryar Afridi.

The visit took place three days after Gen Bajwa visited PM Khan at the Prime Minister Office. The two had at that meeting agreed to work closely for achieving peace in the country and the region. Security issues had dominated their discussions as well.

Security issues have been one of the major friction points in the long troubled civil-military relations. The military has been in the driving seat on security and foreign policy matters, but civilians have in the past taken flak for failings in the fight against extremism and terrorism.

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in his last tenure got his security briefing five months after assuming office, whereas ex-PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi only got a chance to visit the Joint Staff Headquarters after eight months in office.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2018

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...