Our Correspondent
Kakul
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Bajwa on Saturday said that the army’s actions are guided by the national interest of Pakistan and it will continue to support the government in line with the Constitution.
Gen Bajwa was addressing the passing out ceremony of 142nd PMA Long Course, 32nd Technical Graduate Course, 61st Integrated Course, 16th Lady Cadet Course and 1st Basic Military Training Course.
Gen Bajwa said the army had always supported the nation in the same way the nation had supported the army, especially when it was fighting physical battles.
He added that the army would continue to support the government and “defend our democratic values to the hilt”.
“We Pakistanis have proved that we can do wonders when we keep our national interests above our parochial, institutional and personal interests,” he said.
He told the cadets that they were joining an army that “not only defeated the scourge of terrorism but also gave a bloody nose to an army five times bigger in February 2019”.
Talking about the diversity of people recruited in the army, he said the Pakistan Army was a true reflection of the nation it represented. “You are a true microcosm of Pakistan,” he told them.
Gen Bajwa cautioned the cadets that they would be held accountable for the prosperity and security of Pakistan, terming it a “unique burden of love and responsibility”.
“I count it as a great honour that we stand before the nation as a trusted and accountable institution,” he said.
“You must realise that peace is not an end in itself. Our efforts of decades will be wasted if we cannot protect the base from where our nation will rise to the heights of economic sovereignty and ideological maturity, thus truly becoming Quaid’s Pakistan.”
The COAS said that Pakistan’s institutions were growing stronger and were working together to serve the country.
“Like many countries in the past, we have also been subjected to wars and economic strangulation but we have survived. Now it is only through the synergy and actualisation of our true national potential that we shall rise and progress.”
He said Pakistan’s enemies were feeling “frustrated” because they had failed to cause doom and destruction and were now subjecting the country to a “24/7 hybrid war”.
“This war is not fought on the battlefield but in the minds. In this new war, leadership at all levels is the target. The objective of hybrid war is to target the sense of hope in Pakistan and to perpetuate the perception that yahan kuch acha nahi ho sakta (nothing good can happen here). Let me tell you, yahan sab acha hoga (everything will be good here),” he added.
He advised the cadets not to get confused between genuine criticism and hybrid warfare. “Do not confuse sincere critique from hybrid. Most voices that might seem loud to you might come from a place of love, patriotism and trust and therefore, must be heeded,” he said.
“We must listen to our people and apply corrections where needed. These voices are proof that we are alive and well as a nation that is moving in the right direction.” Gen Bajwa said that the actions of the army were guided by the Constitution and the national interests of Pakistan, adding that the country was secure from a “military point of view”.
Cadets from Palestine, Maldives, Qatar and Sri Lanka were also among those passing out. The army chief said that as is true for many countries, Pakistan was also subjected to wars, terrorism and economic strangulation.
“But Alhumdullauh we have survived. The enemies who brought us to doom and destruction are now watching us in disdain,” said Gen Bajwa.
“Having failed and feeling frustrated they have now subjected us to a 24/7 hybrid war,” he added.
The army chief said that he is satisfied that the institutions in the country are getting stronger. He said that Pakistan paid a very heavy price to achieve peace and will maintain it at every cost. “Pakistan has made great efforts for regional and global peace, according to Quaid’s vision,” said Gen Bajwa.
Gen Bajwa, addressing the cadets said: “Today marks the most cherished moment of your lives. You’ve proved yourself worthy for a noble yet a demanding profession.”
“Today is the start of your career. You must realise that peace is not an end in itself,” he said.
Gen Bajwa asked the cadets to always remember “we are all soldiers of Pakistan regardless of our caste, creed, sect and ethnicity”. He said all soldiers will always stand together as one and that is the true strength of any force.
The army chief expressed his resolve that Pakistan will find a way out of any crisis that comes its way and will carve out a great name for itself.
“Our strength is our strong bond with our people and the Constitution of our country,” he said, adding that the army “shall defend this bond and our democratic values to the hilt”. Gen Bajwa said that today, Pakistan is secure from a military point of view.
“We will continue to support the government whenever asked to, as per the law and guidelines of the Constitution,” said the army chief.
He told the cadets: “You will have to stand firm in very difficult times but stand you must.” He cautioned them against being complacent when close to the finish line.
Gen Bajwa congratulated the cadets on the memorable day and offered his felicitations to the proud parents.
“Our fight against, terrorism, Covid-19, floods and our response to the locust threat is a testimony to both our capacity to work and deliver,” he stated.
The army chief said these are important undertakings and Pakistan Army is proud to support the nation as it has always supported especially when fighting the physical enemies of Pakistan.
“Please keep in mind that not only you have to discern light from the darkness, but also protect your men from sedition. The best way to do it is to just follow the SOPs, traditions and time tested ethos of the army,” he maintained.
Among the passing-out cadets, 15 were from the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Similarly, 54 cadets were from Balochistan, among them the son of Senator Hafiz Hamad Ullah, who belongs to the Maulana Fazlur Rehman-led faction of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam.
In October 2019, the National Database and Registration Authority declared Hamd Ullah an alien, setting off a controversy. At the time, Nadra alleged that Hamd Ullah was an Afghan national who had ‘fraudulently obtained’ his computerised national identity card that has now been cancelled.
The COAS reviewed the parade and gave awards to distinguished cadets. The coveted Sword of Honour was awarded to Academy Senior Under Officer Muhammad Faateh of 142nd PMA Long Course. The President’s Gold Medal to Battalion Senior Under Officer Junaid Khan of 142nd PMA Long Course, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Overseas Gold Medal to Under Officer Naazim Naseer of 142nd PMA Long Course from Maldives, Chief of Army Staff Cane to Company Junior Under Officer Tanawosh of 32nd Technical Graduate Course and Commandant Cane awarded to Sargent Hamza Tariq of 61st Integrated Course, Company Sargent Major Ada Urooj of 16th Lady Cadet Course and Company Under Officer Mehwish Anjum of 1st Basic Military Training Course.
