Remarks of former chief of army staff (COAS) General (retired) Qamar Javed Bajwa on combat preparedness were quoted ‘out of context’ said Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Friday. Earlier it emerged that former COAS Qamar Javed Bajwa reportedly told two senior journalists that the Pakistan Army lacked the ammunition and economic strength.
The army has put to rest all speculations of yet another extension for the incumbent chief, as its official media wing confirmed that General Qamar Javed Bajwa has kicked off farewell visits. General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) visited Sialkot and Mangla garrisons as part of his farewell visits to various formations.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Monday that six Pakistan Army officials, including two majors, were martyred after a helicopter crashed during a flying mission near Khost in Harnai, Balochistan. The ISPR has yet to release details about the cause of the crash which comes more than a month after a similar incident occurred in Balochistan.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) took strong exception to recent remarks by PTI Chairman Imran Khan regarding the appointment of the new army chief, saying that it was “aghast at the defamatory and uncalled for” statement. The comments come a day after Imran, at a rally in Faisalabad, alleged that the PPP and PML-N wanted to “appoint an army chief of their choice”.
The wreckage of the ill-fated Army Aviation helicopter, which went missing a day earlier, has been found. ISPR has confirmed that all six passengers onboard have embraced martyrdom in the crash. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the wreckage was found in the Musa Goth area of Windar in Lasbela district. The unfortunate accident occurred due to bad weather as per initial investigations.
Pakistan has conducted a successful training launch of the Babur IA cruise missile, said a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The cruise missile has a range of 450 kilometres and can be launched from either a submarine or a land-based quad-launcher. The military’s media wing added that the missile is “capable of engaging targets at land and sea with high precision”.
The Pakistan Army announced the successful launch of multi-launch rocket system Fatah-1. The ISPR chief tweeted that Pakistan conducted a successful test flight of the locally developed guided multi-launch rocket system. It is capable of delivering a conventional warhead in a 140km range. The weapon system will give the Pakistan Army the capability of precision target engagement deep in enemy territory.
Despite opposition’s criticism of the newly formed China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Authority (CPECA), the government announced the appointment of retired Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa as its chairman. The government had established the CPECA in October to ensure timely completion of the CPEC projects. The prime minister has said the CPECA will help ensure coordination among the departments concerned.
Three majors of Pakistan Army have been found guilty of indiscipline and misconduct charges, including abuse of authority and involvement in illegal activities. All three officers have have been dismissed from service, while two have been awarded rigorous imprisonment for two years each. The exact nature of charges have not been specified and it remains unclear what the three officers were found guilty of.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has revealed in statement that Pakistan successfully conducted a night training launch of surface to surface ballistic missile Ghaznavi. The newly launched missile is “capable of delivering multiple types of warheads” a distance of up to 290 km (180 miles). The training launch comes amid increasing tensions with India after New Delhi revoked occupied Kashmir’s special status illegally.