Individuals playing in foreign hands exploiting sentiments of terror-victims, says COAS Gen Bajwa

PESHAWAR - Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Qamar Javed Bajwa expressed on Thursday that few individuals playing in foreign hands were by design exploiting sentiments of the people who had actually suffered at the hands of terrorism and now needed care.

Interacted with students of various universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at Corps Auditorium, the military chief said Pakistani nation and its armed forces had done a great job in their fight against terrorism.

It’s time now to have its dividends through socio-economic development in which education was the most important, a press release issued here by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

The COAS said that Pakistan was blessed with dynamic and talented youth and the future of Pakistan belonged to them.

Referring to the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement, he said that the group itself was not an issue as the issues being highlighted were genuine and natural in the post-operation environment.

‘No one can fight with the state,’ DG ISPR warns PTM leadership

The Army Chief said that both the government and the security forces were working to address genuine issues of the tribals regardless of where they came from.

“For us progress towards enduring peace through socio-economic development came first and we shall fail all inimical forces and their conspiracies trying to undo our gains”, the COAS said.

The students expressed full support for Pakistani armed forces and said that they would be contributors and not bystanders to the bright future of Pakistan and that they would not be swayed by detractors of any type.

Time's Up: DG ISPR

The Director General of ISPR, Major General Asif Ghafoor told newsmen a few days ago that PTM was in touch with India and Afghanistan. The military's spokesperson confirmed that a relative of Manzoor Pashteen met Indian official in Afghanistan, accusing the group of receiving funds from foreign countries.

He clarified Army wanted to make every effort to resolve the issues faced by Pashtuns in tribals areas, but, the way, they (PTM) adopted to eradicate such grievances would no longer be tolerated.

“No one can fight with the state. We were told to deal gently with PTM since day one”. “Why does TTP speak in favour of PTM? Why is your narrative similar,” he asked.