Army concerned over lack of progress on NAP

ISLAMABAD: Chairing a high-level security meeting at the General Headquarters (GHQ) on Friday, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif said a lack of progress on the National Action Plan (NAP) was affecting the consolidation phase of Operation Zarb-e-Azb.

“The National Action Plan is central to achievements of our objectives and its lack of progress is affecting the consolidation phase of Operation Zarb-e-Azb,” General Raheel said while reviewing the progress of the operation.

The meeting was attended by Principal Staff Officers (PSOs), DG Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Commander Rawalpindi Corps. The forum reaffirmed its resolve to continue to contribute towards full spectrum national security, the ISPR said.

General Raheel observed that unless all prongs deliver meaningfully and all inadequacies are addressed, remnants of terrorism would continue to simmer and long-term peace and stability would remain a distant dream.

He said the whole nation has been standing alongside the security forces to eliminate the scourge of terrorism from Pakistan’s soil. “We have come a long way in fighting this war on terror and reversing the tide towards eliminating this scourge from our soil and the whole nation has been standing alongside its security forces,” the army chief said.

General Raheel pointed out that while there has been considerable improvement in security environment and dividends have started to reach the masses, any distracting and inciting comments and theories by some quarters are unhelpful and undermining the overall national effort.

He said that synergised national response is the prime requirement at this time to successfully conclude our efforts. “I salute the people of Pakistan, all security forces and intelligence agencies for their tireless efforts and sacrifices to bring about peace and stability,” he said.