Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir has warned inimical forces that Pakistan’s retribution would strike back far and deep if any form of warfare was applied against the country.

“Regardless of multi-layered and multi-dimensional threat piled up against us we stand united and reassured, traditional and non-traditional, dynamic or pro-active, whatever form of warfare is applied against us, our retribution will be sharp and painful and we will certainly strike back far and deep,” he said while addressing the Azadi Parade.

The parade marking the country’s 77th independence anniversary was held at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul late on Sunday.

“We know that freedom is not free and it caused many brave sons and daughters and we are always ready for that,” the army chief said and added that he has full faith and confidence that the people of Pakistan and its security forces would never relent and let anyone cast “evil eye on this great country.”

He thanked People’s Republic of China, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, State of Qatar, and Turkiye for standing with the country during thick and thin and extending to it every kind of support whenever needed.

Terrorism in KP

The army chief expressed grave concerns over the resurgence of terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, particularly due to the activities of the Fitna-ul-Khawarij and their anti-Sharia operations.

“The scourge of terrorism has once again reared its head, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, due to the mischief of the Khawarij and their anti-Sharia actions,” he said and paid tribute to the courage and contributions of the Pashtun brothers to the war against terrorism.

COAS Munir also praised the people of Balochistan and added that the Pakistan Army, in cooperation with the federal government and the province, would continue to play a “key role in the security, well-being, and development of Balochistan and its gallant people.”

Afghanistan’s role

While addressing the regional dynamics, the army chief referred to Afghanistan as “our brotherly Islamic neighbour.”

He said: “We desire to maintain excellent relations with Afghanistan, and our message to them is that they should not prioritise the mischief of the Fitna-ul-Khawarij over their longstanding, well-wishing, and brotherly neighbour.”

The army chief also reiterated that the Constitution of Pakistan does indeed provide for freedom of speech, but it has also clearly delineated the boundaries of this right.

IIOJK, Palestine

COAS Munir also spoke about the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine.

“We stand rock solid with them for their indelible right of self-determination as and enshrined in the United Nations resolutions and reassure our full political, diplomatic and moral support to the valiant people of Kashmir,” he said.

He went on to add that Independence Day also called upon the country to realise the gravity of “horrendous genocide, racial slaughter, and indiscriminate atrocities being persecuted by Israel against the helpless people of Gaza.”

According to the army chief, the disregard for international and humanitarian law was a “blemish” on the world’s conscious and rules-based international order.

He appreciated the efforts by the Government of Pakistan towards the peaceful resolution of the Palestine conflict for continuous provision of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza and for raising the Palestine issue at every forum in the world.