Pakistan ready to resolve all outstanding issues with its neighbors through dialogue: COAS

While addressing the Islamabad National Security Dialogue ceremony, COAS underlined the need for the national security dialogue.

“The role of national security dialogue is not just limited to Army nowadays, other stakeholders are part of it too. The National Security Dialogue is the need of time. No country can fight terrorism alone, as today’s world is facing different kinds of terrorism,” he said adding that a comprehensive strategy is needed to address the security challenges of Pakistan.

Mentioning that increasing security expenditures results in killing human development, COAS said that despite aggressive neighbor and security threats to Pakistan, the country has restrained itself from the arms race in the region.

“Islamabad is spending less on defense expenditures,” he added

Stressing upon the need to maintain regional peace, the army chief stated that the economy of Pakistan will also be strong if the regional peace is maintained.

“The Kashmir issue is a major reason of tension between Pakistan and India and without a just solution to Kashmir issue, peace in region is impossible,” he said.

COAS further stated that the world recognizes Pakistan as an important country due to its geostrategic location that acts as a conduit between regional economies.

Praising Pakistan’s robust role in the Afghan peace process, the army chief said that Pakistan has played its due role to ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan as it is crucial in maintaining regional peace.

“It was due to efforts by Pakistan that a historic deal was signed between the Taliban and the United States (US) last year,” he said.