Time for political decisions on action in urban areas: COAS

ISLAMABAD: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif said on Wednesday that the noteworthy achievements in Operation Zarb-e-Azb have created a space for a decisive surge against terrorists in the urban areas and the environment is ripe for political optimisation towards a meaningful and sustainable closure.
According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), during his visit to the Command and Staff College Quetta the army chief said that only a secure Pakistan could be a prosperous Pakistan.
“Our fight against terrorism and extremism is not just for today but for our future generations,” he added.The COAS said that wars are not fought by armies alone; rather, they require the whole nation’s efforts. “Our security threats are complex, multidimensional and hybrid in character,” he said.
General Raheel said traditional response mechanisms are therefore not relevant any more. “These threats have many faces and their sources are obscure.”The COAS emphasised the complex and ever-changing nature of threats to national security and said that the prosperity of the country hinges upon its security.
While talking to the officers, the COAS doubly stressed on turning up the heat on the terrorists across the board.“The ongoing surge in terrorism needs more than conventional retaliation as it’s not enough,” he added.Earlier, on arrival at Quetta, the COAS was received by Commander Southern Command Lieutenant General Naseer Khan Janjua.