Regional peace, stability linked to collective restraint, respect for sovereignty: army's top brass

Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir presided over the meeting at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) said.

The military leadership’s observation comes against the backdrop of hostilities in the Middle East that began with the launch of US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. The strikes led to a war, which has been paused following a ceasefire that is fragile and continues to be tested.

The Corps Commanders’ Conference, while deliberating on the broader regional security environment, “noted that emerging geopolitical developments carry significant implications for regional stability,” the ISPR statement said.

The top brass emphasised the importance of restraint and “avoidance of escalation” and “acknowledged Pakistan’s continued responsible role in advocating stability and supporting efforts aimed at preventing further deterioration of the situation”.

As per ISPR, the conference “reiterated that peace and stability in the region are intrinsically linked to collective restraint, responsibility and respect for sovereignty”.

Chairing the meeting, CDF Munir “expressed satisfaction over the high standards of operational preparedness, professionalism, and combat readiness of Pakistan’s armed forces”.

He commended “commanders and formations for their unwavering commitment, vigilance, and success” in counter-terrorism operations across the country.

The ISPR statement said the meeting comprehensively reviewed the the internal and external security environment and “resolved to maintain current operational tempo to decisively dismantle terrorist networks, disrupt their support infrastructure, and deny them any operational space within Pakistan”.

Participants of the meeting also noted “continued degradation of terrorists and their support infrastructure” by means of Operation Ghazab lil-Haq.

Operation Ghazab lil-Haq was launched by Pakistan’s armed forces on the night of Feb 26 following cross-border firing by the Afghan Taliban.

As per ISPR, the forum discussed that the “irrational and perverted policy of the Afghan Taliban regime to provide safe havens to Khawarij and other terrorist organisations, with total disregard to [the] interests of [the] Afghan people, is increasingly backfiring and stands fully exposed”.

ISPR said that the forum also took note of a “propaganda campaign” by the Afghan Taliban in an attempt to “falsely portray Pakistan as targeting civilians inside Afghanistan”.

Such reports were termed as “part of a coordinated disinformation strategy by the regime to distract attention from their internal failures and play [the] victim card”. The top brass rejected such a “frivolous” allegation, reiterating that Pakistan’s “defensive actions remain focused, precise, and directed solely against infiltrators, terrorist hideouts and support infrastructures”.

On the matter of broader regional development, the top brass observed that “emerging geopolitical developments carry significant implications for regional stability”.

The top brass “acknowledged Pakistan’s continued responsible role in advocating stability and supporting efforts aimed at preventing further deterioration of the situation,” the statement read.

The forum also congratulated the nation and the forces on the 1st anniversary of Marka-i-Haq, terming it a “defining moment” in Pakistan’s history.

In May last year, Pakistan had named the period of conflict with India, from the April 22 Pahalgam attack to the May 10 conclusion of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, as “Marka-i-Haq”.

The statement added that Marka-i-Haq reflected Pakistan’s “national unity, collective resolve, and an unyielding commitment to safeguard Pakistan’s sovereignty at all costs”.

According to ISPR, “Forum underscored that the national commemoration of Marka-i-Haq serves as a clear message to [the] Indian hubristic political mindset that the Pakistani nation stands united, resilient, and fully prepared”.

It also reflected the “unshakeable harmony” between people, government and the armed forces.

The top brass also paid tribute to the martyrs of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and innocent civilians, ISPR said, adding that they also condemned India’s “atrocities, extrajudicial killings, and demographic changes” in India-occupied Kashmir.

Concluding the forum, CDF Munir “directed commanders to maintain the highest levels of vigilance, operational readiness, and adaptability in the face of evolving threats”.

As per ISPR, CDF Munir further called for a “continued focus on professional excellence, integrated response mechanisms, and proactive measures to counter both conventional and non-conventional challenges”.