COAS, PM Nawaz witness military drills in Multan

MULTAN (92 News) – Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif witnessed military exercises of ground and air power on Wednesday. Tanks, artillery, planes and other heavy weapons have been used during the exercise aimed at reviewing preparedness of the army. The drills Raad-ul-Barq were conducted in Multan’s Khairpur Tamewali area located near Pakistan-India borders. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq and other civil and military officials have also witnessed the drills. Addressing the ceremony marking culmination of exercise Raad-ul-Barq in Khairpur Tamewali in Bahawalpur, Nawaz Sharif said that any effort to harm national security and territorial integrity will meet a befitting response, adding that the drills established that Pakistan is ready to confront any ambitious and reckless move by its enemies. Sharif said that the Government is committed to following a policy of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs and expects the same from others to enable lasting peace in the region. He said we cannot remain detached from recent developments in the region. The prime minister said that brutal tactics used to curb recent spontaneous and indigenous movement in Jammu and Kashmir have been counterproductive and said killing of our innocent civilians and soldiers along the Line of Control is another act of aggression which warrants international attention. The Prime Minister said economic prosperity is significant especially to our strategic vision. Pakistan believes regional connectivity is vital process of uplifting conditions of millions of people in the region. He said: “CPEC is on its way to become fully operational in coming months and years, adding that every effort will be made to ensure that all CPEC projects are completed within given time frame.” As part of the Government's overall developmental agenda no province or region would be left out with respect to benefits deriving from CPEC. Tensions between the two nuclear-armed rivals have increased in recent months after attack on Indian military facilities in the Indian-occupied part of Kashmir. India has blamed Pakistan-based militants for the attacks, a charge Pakistan denies. Despite pleas from the United Nations, the two sides have continued to exchange fire in the disputed Himalayan region. The violence has forced thousands of villagers on the Pakistani side to flee for safety.