Pakistan will never abandon Kashmiris: Gen Bajwa

RAWALPINDI: Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday lauded the motivation and spirit of the troops stating that there was no better way to celebrate independence than defending the country.

The army chief said this during his visit to the troops deployed at the Line of Control (LoC).According to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement, General Bajwa wasapprised of the recent abnormally frequent ceasefire violations from the Indian side and effective response by the Pakistani troops.

The army chief was told that the only restraint faced by the Pakistani troops was the professional ethos of the army which barred them from responding in kind when the Indian troops target innocent civilians along the LoC.

The COAS said the Indian Army’s atrocities had not been able to deter the spirit and sacrifices of the brave Kashmiris in Indian Occupied Kashmir.“We will always stand with them in their just struggle against repression,” he added.

Earlier, on arrival, the COAS was received by Commander Rawalpindi Corps Lieutenant General Nadeem Raza.Meanwhile, the COAS hosted an Independence Day reception for retired officers and soldiers.The reception is a regular annual event on August 14 where serving and retired officers and soldiers celebrate the day together. The COAS congratulated all on the Independence Day.