ISLAMABAD, November 29: Â Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa says Pakistan Army will continue safeguarding the country against internal and external threats.
He said this while talking informally to media men in Rawalpindi today after taking over as Chief of Army Staff.
General Bajwa assured the Army will take the war on terror to its logical end with the backing of the entire nation.
He said the media in Pakistan should continue playing its part in boosting morale of security forces. He said the media should not spread despondency in the country.
General Qamar Javed Bajwa was installed as the 16th Chief of Army Staff at an impressive change of command ceremony at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi today.
Outgoing Army Chief General Raheel Sharif handed over the traditional Malacca Cane to General Qamar Javed Bajwa symbolizing the change of command.
In his farewell address, outgoing Army Chief said his every decision was motivated by national interests and priorities.
General Raheel Sharif said challenges of the country have not ended as the security situation of the region remains complicated.
He said it is need of the hour for the nation and the institutions to work in harmony to wards off external threats. For this purpose, internal weaknesses, including criminality, extremism and corruption will have to be eradicated.
General Raheel said India’s aggressive posture is a serious threat to regional peace and security. He warned that it would be dangerous to construe Pakistan’s policy of restraint as its weakness.
He said there cannot be durable peace and progress in South Asia without resolution of the Kashmir dispute. He said this requires special attention of the international community.
Referring to Pakistan’s sincere desire to see durable peace in neighbouring Afghanistan, General Raheel Sharif called for role of regional countries and political reconciliation for resolution of the issue.
The ceremony, held at Army Hockey Stadium, was attended, amongst others, by Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, members of the Federal Cabinet, Services Chiefs, former services chiefs, parliamentarians and senior civil and military officials.
The military band presented tunes of folk and national songs for the amusement of the audience which also included foreign dignitaries.
