Fighting against terrorism: South African army chief lauds sacrifices of Pakistan army

Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif, at the invitation of South African Army Chief Lieutenant General V R Masondo, paid an official visit to South Africa from 6-8 July, 2015. During his three-day visit, General Raheel Sharif held detailed meetings with the top South African military leadership in our common endeavour to further strengthen Pak-South Africa defence relations.
The CoAS was warmly received by Lieutenant General Masondo at the South African Army Headquarters. Both Chiefs expressed satisfaction at the existing bilateral defence relations and discussed ways and means to further strengthen bilateral defence trajectory. General Raheel Sharif was also given detailed briefing on operational and training matters of South African Army. The South African Army Chief lauded the professional prowess and sacrifices of Pakistan Army in successfully fighting against terrorism and showed keenness in bolstering mutually beneficial defence relations between Pakistan and South Africa.
Later, General Sharif met Chief of South African National Defence Forces (SANDF), General Solly Zacharia Shoke and Chief of South African Military Health Services Lieutenant General A P Sedibe and discussed matters of mutual interest. During a visit to Denel SOC Ltd, a state-owned defence related South African company, General Sharif was briefed on certain innovative defence and security related technology solutions. The CoAS also inspected defence production facilities of South Africa to see possibilities of enhancing defence co-operation between the two countries.
The CoAS delivered separate talks at the South African Defence College and the Pretoria based well reputed Institute for Security Studies. The CoAS briefed about the overall security situation prevailing in the region and Pakistan's successful ongoing efforts in eliminating terrorism from the region. In particular, he elaborated on Pakistan's contribution in war against terror and the achievements so far made in the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Asb.
General Raheel Sharif, inter alia, stated, "Ours is collective national victory against terrorism, of a nation so resolute and determined to root out terrorism from our region", adding, "We, the most resilient nation, are on the rise". During a dinner hosted by the High Commissioner of Pakistan, the CoAS also interacted with the Representatives of over 100,000 strong Pakistani Community based in South Africa. This was the first ever visit of an Army Chief from Pakistan since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1994. The South African Army Chief visited Pakistan in December, 2014.-PR