Consensus against terror not be lost to petty rifts: COAS

RAWALPINDI: The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif, on Thursday said the political consensus against terrorism should not be lost to petty differences. He said the entire nation was looking towards the political and military leadership of the country to take bold and meaningful decisions leading to stern action against the terrorists and their sympathisers.
He was addressing the 178th Corps Commanders Conference at the General Headquarters. The army chief appreciated the resolve of the national political leadership shown during the All Parties Conference (APC), says a press statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) here.
The participants of the conference expressed grief over the tragic loss of innocent lives in Peshawar terrorist attack, solidarity with the bereaved families and expressed the resolve not to stop the operations till the elimination of the last terrorist from the country.
The forum reviewed the overall internal and external security situation in the country with particular focus on the ongoing operations. The recent upsurge in Intelligence Based Operations (IBOs) across the country were also reviewed and their effects were appreciated.
“Appreciating the resolve of the national political leadership shown during the All Parties Conference (APC), the COAS said that entire nation was looking towards political and military leadership of the country to take bold and meaningful decisions leading to stern action against terrorists and their sympathisers.
“Much wanted and precious wider political consensus achieved against terrorismshould not be lost to smaller issues, the participants hoped. The key lies in all institutions joining hands for an effective and prompt implementation of a comprehensive National Action Plan without loss of any further time, he emphasised,” according to the ISPR.
The statement further said the COAS also reviewed the homework done by all concerned for execution of their respective assigned tasks listed in the National Action Plan and directed them to follow strict time lines. “Recent upsurge in Intelligence Based Operations (IBOs) across the country was also reviewed and its effects appreciated,” the ISPR said in a statement following the meeting.