Raheel passes baton to Bajwa

General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday took over as new Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) at a ceremony held in Army Hockey Stadium of the General Headquarters. Outgoing army chief General Raheel Sharif was presented a farewell salute after he passed the baton of command to General Bajwa. In his farewell address, the outgoing Army Chief paid tributes to those who had lost their lives for the nation and made sacrifices in the war against terrorism.
He said the challenges of the country have not ended yet as the security situation of the region remains complicated, adding that there is a need to remember sacrifices of our martyrs to stabilise the successes of the recent years. General Raheel said, "India's aggressive posture is a serious threat to the regional peace and security." He warned that it would be dangerous to construe Pakistan's policy of restraint as its weakness, adding that there could not be durable peace and progress in South Asia without the resolution of the Kashmir dispute. This requires special attention of the international community, he added.
Referring to the Pakistan's sincere desire to see durable peace in neighbouring Afghanistan, General Raheel Sharif called for role of regional countries and political reconciliation for resolution of the issue. He said that Pakistan Army fought a successful war against terror, giving a new hope for peace to the people of Pakistan and the region.
He said the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is a major factor in ensuring regional peace. The departure of the first cargo from Gwadar port had shown that this journey could not be halted now, he added. He maintained that his every decision was motivated by the national interests and priorities. He said, "I believe in stability and supremacy of institutions," adding that it was his efforts that all institutions work together for security and prosperity of the country.
The implementation on the National Action Plan (NAP) would continue till realisation of the goal of complete peace, he stressed. General Raheel Sharif said it is need of the hour for the nation and the institutions to work in harmony against external threats. For this purpose, he said that internal weaknesses including criminality, extremism and corruption would have to be eradicated.
He thanked the entire nation, Armed Forces, Pakistan Rangers, Levies, security agencies and police for fully backing and supporting the mission of defending and securing the motherland. In his informal discussion with the media persons, Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa urged media to continue playing its role in keeping Army's morale high. He also vowed to take the media along in discharging his responsibilities.
General Bajwa said the media would be invited for guidance and support, adding that media should avoid creating dispodency in society. The ceremony was attended, amongst others, by Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, members of the federal cabinet, services chiefs, former services chiefs, parliamentarians and senior civil and military officials.
Minister of Defence Khawaja Asif, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Minister of State for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb, Speaker National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq and PPP leader Abdul Qadir Patel were present at the ceremony, alongside former Army Chief Ashfaq Pervez Kayani.
The newly-appointed Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Zubair Mahmood Hayat and outgoing CJCSC General Rashad Mahmood were also present at the ceremony. Earlier, General Raheel Sharif and new Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited the Yadgar-e-Shuhada (martyrs' memorial).