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- May 2, 2024
- Kainat Shakeel
- 0
General Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), declared on Thursday that the military was “well aware” of its constitutional bounds and that it looked to others to protect the document. As the chief guest, he addressed the cadet passing-out parade at the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Asghar Khan Academy in Risalpur, saying, “We are well aware of our constitutional limits and expect others to uphold the Constitution.” “Those who flout the clear restrictions imposed on freedom of expression in the Constitution cannot point fingers at others,” the army commander stated, citing Article 19 of the Constitution, which “clearly defines the limits of freedom of speech and expression of opinion.”
Gen. Munir emphasized that the PAF has consistently met and exceeded national expectations. He pointed out that a nation was vulnerable to any invader in the absence of a robust air force. The PAF’s “unparalleled bravery and professionalism” in policing airspace in the face of various challenges was praised by the army chief, who cited the February 2019 shooting down of an Indian aircraft that had violated airspace as a prime example. “You are the center of our hopes, the guardian of the skies, and the guarantors of regional unity,” he remarked, addressing the cadets.
In addition to saying that the cadets’ “conduct would not only be extraordinary for their ethics but also the respected institution,” COAS Munir stated that the students were expected to “lead a life adorned with the virtues of character, courage, and competence.” The army had declared, “You will never hesitate to give sacrifice for the defense, honor, and dignity of the motherland.” “Always uphold our nation’s best spirit, the professional expertise of the institution, and the eternal tradition of bravery,” he emphasized, was what the military leadership demanded of the cadets.
Gen. Munir said, “Always remember that the truth is powerful while falsehood can never be powerful.” “Aspire to be like M.M. Alam, Sarfraz Rafiqui, and Rashid Minhas, who offered their lives and services to safeguard the homeland’s dignity. The COAS urged them to “remain loyal to the state of Pakistan and committed to the responsibility being given to you.” Gen. Munir emphasized that there was a chance that the arms race may upset the balance of power in the area. He pointed out that “specific technologies, like robotics, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing, are changing the use of air power and expanding its scope.”
The army general described the current Israeli offensive in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 34,000 Palestinians, as the “latest example of the sufferings that wars can bring”. He claimed that the senseless murder of women, children, and the elderly in Gaza was evidence of an increase in global violence. Regarding India-occupied Kashmir, COAS Munir declared that India continued to occupy the territory illegally. “The voice of freedom there cannot be suppressed by the silence of the entire world regarding the ongoing Indian aggression in Kashmir,” he declared. Pakistan will keep offering “moral, political, and diplomatic support to our Kashmir brothers,” the army chief pledged.