COAS honoured for fighting terror, regional peace in Ankara

ANKARA: Pakistan’s Army Chief General Raheel Sharif on Monday conferred with the ‘Turkish Legend of Merit’ award for his services for regional peace and courageously handling the menace of terrorism.

In messages shared on social media, DG Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Asim Bajwa said the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) was honoured with the Turkish award also for his ‘clarity in direction & sense of purpose in leading Pak Army and fighting barbarian terrorists successfully in an exemplary way’.

Gen Raheel laid a wreath at Kamal Ata Turk Mausoleum after arriving here on a three-day official visit. He was also presented guard of honour at the Turkish Land Forces Headquarters.

#COAS visited,was presented guard of honor at Turkish Land Forces HQ.Our brotherly relation is time tested,eternal-2 pic.twitter.com/ckUeAQtnkD

— AsimBajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) October 12, 2015

Speaking on the occasion, the army chief said the ‘brotherly relations’ between Pakistan and Turkey were time-tested and eternal. He also expressed his heartfelt condolences on the deadly terrorist explosion at a peace rally in the Turkish capital on Saturday.

“We understand enormity of your challenges and stand by you,” he was quoted as saying by the DG ISPR.

During his meeting with his Turkish counterpart, the COAS discussed enhanced cooperation in fields of counter-terrorism, training and control of IED and international domain, said Lt Gen Bajwa.

“Turkey (is) facing daunting challenges. I am sure we will surmount them with a common & coherent apch. We assure you our unflinching support,” the chief of Pakistani armed forces was quoted as saying during the meeting.