MULTAN,April 18th:Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Sunday said,"Pakistan has suffered the maximum in terms of human and economic losses due to terrorism and violent extremism, but it has not dented the resolve of the nation and its armed forces to fight and finish the terrorism in accordance with own national interests." Ruling out aggressive purposes against any country said Pakistan forces are fully capable of defending the country.Addressing the concluding ceremony of the first phase of Azm-e-Nau III military Exercise which was underway in Bahawalpur ,Gen Kayani said the purpose to conduct the exercise is to test capabilities and professional skills of the Pakistan Army.In the wake of emerging geo-strategic scenario and rapidly changing things both inside and outside the country, Pakistan as a sovereign and independent country deemed it necessary to reactivate and demonstrate its military might to fortify confidence of the nation in its valiant armed forces. The largest ever War Games ‘Azm-e-Nau III that have been concluded today by Pakistan Armed Forces in Choalistan sector of Southern Punjab is a clear message of a proud nation standing side by side with them to the evil forces threatening their country’s ideological and geographical frontiers.More than twenty thousand troops, officers and jawans, from almost all departments of Pakistan Army took part in the exercises. Pakistan Air Force also joined Pakistan Army during the exercises. The aim of the exercises was to practise the preparedness of the forces for any conventional war threat, to work out the contemporary military planning, modern war techniques and the use of latest weapon system.It is worth mentioning here that Army Chief, General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani has declared the year 2010 as ‘The Year of Training’. Various departments of Pakistan Army like Tanks, Artillery, Anti Aircraft, Engineers, Infantry, Signals and supporting units participated in the manoeuvres.A heavy Anti Tank Battalion successfully demonstrated the dispersal manoeuvres, in which the Armed Personnel Carriers (APCs) also took part. Troops valiantly exercised their professional skills and techniques.
Azm-e-Nau III was the culmination of typical broad-based and long-term process of War Games and conceptualization of conventional war.The exercises were the true depiction of excellent professional training system in Armed Forces of Pakistan.COAS identified five fundamentals that helped in turning the tide and must not be lost sight for future operations. These are: public opinion, media support, army’s capability and resolve, ‘our war’ was not ‘US war’ and a comprehensive strategy based on four different phases namely clear, hold, build and transfer. For the way forward, he said that, the fundamentals should remain strong and intact, short and long term interests be reconciled, strategic direction should be maintained and coordination be effect based.COAS said our objective is to have peaceful, stable and friendly Afghanistan. "We cannot wish for Afghanistan anything that we don’t wish for Pakistan". He reaffirmed that geography, culture and history can neither be separated nor wished away. He emphasized that our operations in 2009 have helped improving situation in Afghanistan in terms of squeezing of spaces, better control of areas and continuous logistic flow.COAS was given detailed briefing exercise conductred here, by Commander Southern Command Lieutenant General Khalid Shamim Wyne in the Control Headquarters.On arrival, the COAS was received by Lieutenant General Naeem Khalid Lodhi, Corps Commander Bahawalpur.The Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani also attended the ceremony.