Futuristic training vital for operational readiness: Bajwa

RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on Saturday said that realistic and futuristic training, corresponding to evolving threat, is imperative for maintaining operational readiness.

He made the remarks while visiting Sialkot and Kotli, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations. At Sialkot, Gen Bajwa attended the closing session of corps-level war game where he was briefed on the planning parameters and conduct modalities of the exercise.

The war game was based on defensive operations cycle of a corps in a conventional battlefield environment in line with the operational and planning directives of the Pakistan Army.

“COAS appreciated sound planning and befitting application of varying operational response options to crystallise future plans in view of evolving threat matrix,” the statement said. Earlier, on his arrival, the Army chief was received by Corps Commander Lt-Gen Syed Asim Munir. Gen Bajwa also visited troops undergoing field training near Kotli at the conclusion of corps level field exercise “Taskheer-e-Jabal”. The Army chief was briefed about the conduct of the ongoing exercise aimed at enhancing preparedness of formations for various defensive and offensive manoeuvres in mountainous/ semi mountainous terrain. The troops rehearsed tactical/ operational responses to various contingencies under testing conditions.

The Army chief also interacted with the participating troops. Appreciating hard work, high morale and professionalism of troops, Gen Bajwa expressed satisfaction over conduct of the exercise. “Realistic and futuristic training corresponding to evolving threat is imperative for maintaining operational readiness,” the Army chief remarked. Earlier, on his arrival, Gen Bajwa was received by Corps Commander Lt-Gen Azhar Abbas.