Corps commanders confab terms strike ‘unnecessary escalation’, destroys mediation efforts
A drone image of people gathering at the scene of damage in a residential neighborhood after Iranian missile barrages in central Israel. PHOTO: REUTERS
RAWALPINDI:
Top military leaders on Tuesday strongly condemned the recent Iranian attacks on Saudi Arabia’s petrochemical and industrial complexes, calling them an “unnecessary escalation” that threatened to derail mediation efforts to end the Middle East crisis.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release that the 274th Corps Commanders Conference chaired by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defense Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ) reiterated the call for restraint, dialogue and de-escalation.
“The Forum noted with concern and strongly condemned the recent attacks on KSA’s petrochemical and industrial complex as an unnecessary escalation that destroys sincere efforts to resolve the conflict by peaceful means,” the ISPR news release read.
“The forum noted that restraint and calibration so far displayed by the KSA, despite serious provocations, enabled mediation and diplomatic resolution, but such unwarranted aggressions have serious consequences in destroying the ongoing peaceful opportunities and enabling environment,” it added.
The forum appreciated the government’s efforts to end the war in the Middle East and reiterated the call for restraint, dialogue and de-escalation, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to “principled diplomacy and constructive engagement”.
The military leadership reiterated Pakistan’s role as a responsible regional stakeholder actively contributing to peace and stability as a “regional security stabilizer”.
The forum also conducted a comprehensive review of the prevailing internal and external security environment and reaffirmed that all terrorists would be pursued and eliminated.
“All terrorists operating at the behest of India and other external sponsors, along with their facilitators and aides, will be pursued relentlessly and without exception,” the ISPR said.
It further said that the pace of Operation Ghazab Lil Haq would be maintained until the elimination of terrorists’ safe havens and the use of Afghan soil against Pakistan was brought to a decisive end.
The participants categorically rejected “persistent disinformation, baseless allegations and false flag narratives attributed to India, noting that such tactics are discredited internationally.
They also expressed concern over continued human rights abuses by Indian authorities in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and noted a recent spate of “fake encounters” in various locations to cover up extrajudicial killings.
In his closing remarks, Field Marshal Asim Munir charged the commanders to maintain the “highest standards of operational readiness, professionalism and adaptability”, while expressing “full confidence in the capability of the armed forces to counter all forms of threats and ensure Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
The participants also prayed for the martyrs of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and innocent civilians while paying tribute to their sacrifices. Field Marshal Asim expressed satisfaction and commended the security forces for their “unwavering professionalism, operational excellence and steadfast commitment” to the country’s defence.
“Through the synergy between the government, the armed forces and the people, Pakistan continues to consolidate security gains, strengthen economic resilience and improve its regional and global standing,” he said, according to ISPR.
