COAS, UK general visit Balochistan

RAWALPINDI: General Sir Nicholas Patrick Carter, Chief of General Staff (CGS), UK Army, arrived on two-day official visit to Pakistan on Friday, says an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press release.

He met Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Bilateral issues and regional security situation were discussed. The UK CGS acknowledged positive results of Pakistan’s efforts against terrorism and recent measures taken along the Pak-Afghan Border including the fencing for improvement in border control. The visiting dignitary also hailed the Paigham-e-Pakistan Fatwa, which shall have far-reaching effects against extremist narrative.

The COAS highlighted the need for collective action within a collaborative framework to help encourage peace and stability in the region.

The visiting general along with the COAS visited Girdi Jungle, Balochistan, which had recently been sanitised. The delegation was given detailed briefing on security situation and security operations in support of the Khushal Balochistan programme.

The visitors were highly appreciative of the professionalism and dedication with which the sanitisation operation had been conducted. Girdi Jungle, a small village before 1979, had swelled to a town of around 60,000 inhabitants with the majority being Afghan refugees. Over the years, it had been converted into a hub of criminal and narco-activities, facilitating both smugglers and terrorists in their nefarious agenda. The area is now free from inimical influence. The visitors also flew over the border town of Brabchah and were briefed on the peculiar environment of the area and steps taken to secure the Pak-Afghan border in Balochistan. The dignified and ordered resettlement of Afghan refugees and measures to spread dividends of peace in larger region also came under discussion during the visit. British high commissioner, British defence attaché in Pakistan and commander Southern Command were also present during the visit.