By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The military leaders pledged on Thursday to support the country’s electoral commission and the government in ensuring a free and fair general election next month, amid heightened security concerns and a crackdown on illicit activities.
The army’s top brass met for a corps commanders’ conference, where they reviewed the operational readiness of the troops, the regional and global situation, and the challenges to national security, according to a statement from the military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations.
The Election Commission of Pakistan had earlier requested the deployment of army personnel inside polling stations to guarantee foolproof security arrangements, citing a shortage of police officers across the country.
“The Forum also noted that requisite and necessary support will also be extended to the Election Commission of Pakistan for forthcoming general elections,” the statement said.
The army said it would continue to assist the government in its efforts to curb smuggling, money laundering, power theft, and hoarding of essential items, which have been hurting the economy and public welfare.
The commanders expressed solidarity with the Palestinians and condemned the Israeli military’s “serious human rights violations and war crimes” in the Gaza Strip, where a surprise attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 triggered a deadly escalation.
They reiterated the government’s stance of demanding an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
Separately, the forum addressed the issue of rising terrorism in the country and resolved that “all terrorists, their facilitators, and abettors, working on the behest of hostile forces to destabilize Pakistan will be dealt with the full might of the state.”
The army also reiterated its resolve to “defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan against direct and indirect threats.”
The statement said the participants were briefed on the prevalent geostrategic environment, the challenges to national security, and the army’s strategy in response to the evolving threat.
“The sanctuaries and liberty of action available to the terrorists of proscribed TTP and other groups of that ilk in a neighboring country and availability of latest weapons to the terrorists were noted as serious points of concern impacting security of Pakistan,” the statement said, referring to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, which has been waging a violent insurgency against the state.
The participants also offered prayers for the martyrs, including those of the Dera Ismail Khan attack.
At least 23 soldiers were killed and more than 30 wounded after militants belonging to the Tehreek-i-Jihad Pakistan, a splinter group of the TTP, stormed a compound used by the military in DI Khan’s Daraban area on Dec. 12.
The corps commanders’ conference also addressed and expressed “serious concern over continued repression and reprehensible human rights violations” by the Indian military forces in occupied Kashmir.
“The recent acts of abduction, torture, and killing of civilians by the Indian Army were unequivocally condemned by the participants,” the statement said, adding that such acts constituted “grave crimes against humanity” and could not “dampen the spirit of the brave Kashmiris” struggling for their lawful right of self-determination.
“Pakistan would keep supporting its Kashmiri brethren with all political, moral and diplomatic support for resolution of Kashmir issue according to international law and relevant UNSC resolutions,” the statement said.
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