Armed forces will win war on terrorism, says Nawaz

ISLAMABAD: Paying rich tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives for the defence of the motherland, Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Wednesday said the armed forces were the guarantors of the country’s security and would succeed in their war against terrorism.

He was talking to Dr Fayyaz Bukhari, the father of martyred Captain Asfandyar Ahmad Bukhari, at the PM House.Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Military Secretary to the PM Brigadier Akmal Aziz were also present during the meeting.

Nawaz said the armed forces had rendered innumerable sacrifices in the war against terrorism and Pakistan will win this war as a result of the valour of Asfandyar-like soldiers. He said the nation was proud of its brave sons.

He paid homage to the martyred captain saying, “Asfandyar is the pride of Pakistan.”Captain Asfandyar Bukhari had embraced martyrdom while fighting bravely against terrorists at the PAF Badaber base, Peshawar, on September 18. 2015. He was leading his troops from the front during the operation when he embraced martyrdom.

Asfandyar had passed out in the PMA-118 Long Course. He was a brilliant cadet and received many awards during his cadetship, including the sword of honor and War Tactics Medal at the passing out parade of the 118th Long Course in the Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul. He also played hockey for the Punjab’s Under-19 team. He was a chess champion in college, and president of the biology club. He was a brave and intelligent young man with a bright future ahead of him but gave his life for the country.

Later, talking to the media, Dr. Fayyaz Bukhari said he was impressed by his meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif since he was given a befitting protocol at his official residence. “I am amazed to see the amount of information about Shaheed Capt Asfandyar Bukhari the prime minster had. The prime minister had details about the circumstances in which Capt Bukhari embraced martyrdom. He gave ample time for discussion and informed me that a huge hospital being built in Attock would be named after Shaheed Asfandyar Bukhari.”