New army command, LoC, IHK situation & Gen Raheel’s missions discussed

 Birthday of Japanese emperor

Islamabad

The reception hosted by Japanese Ambassador Takashi Kurai for celebrating 83rd birthday of Japanese Emperor Wednesday evening attained significance as it was first diplomatic gathering after change of the command in Pakistan Army.

The guests who turned up in large number had candid discussion about the new army chief and its impact on the situation with special reference to the missions undertaken by General Raheel Sharif. The guests appreciated the gesture of General Qamar Bajwa to visit North Waziristan and Peshawar on his first day in the office. They were of the view that the General was proving true to his words as preferred to visit war theatre of the winning battle then making formal and ceremonial engagements back in the twin-cities. 

Former CJCSC General Ehsanul Haq praised the new army chief for opting North Waziristan and Peshawar as the first destination of his visit outside the GHQ. The guests were generous with their praise for General Raheel who has set glorious examples by all standards. 

India’s unashamed defiance of the ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir and flagrant violations of human rights in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) was other subject of discussion among the guests. They were concerned about the increasing tension between Pakistan and India since it could be resulted in nuclear conflict between the two.

The guests in the reception coming from various walks of life in large number indicated the popularity of the new Japanese Ambassador Takashi Kurai who took over the assignment early this year.

Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmad was the chief guest on the occasion who performed cake cutting ceremony after plying of national anthems of the two countries. The PTI leader and former State Interior Minister Dr Wasim Shahzad, Aziz Bulani, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad of the Awami Muslim League, Additional Foreign Secretary Zulfikar Gardezi, Foreign Office’s spokesman Nafees Zikria, officers from the three services and senior bureaucrats, members of the Diplomatic Corp were significant with their presence in the reception.

Ambassador Takashi and Sheikh Aftab Ahmad spoke on the occasion and expressed satisfaction about the improvement in the ties of the two countries. Sheikh Aftab Ahmad highlighted the policies of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif government who is keen to see stability and peace in the region for the collective good of the people.