RAWALPINDI: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Saturday said that Pakistan was aware of the enemy's design to destabilise the country and the region, adding the army was fully prepared and capable of thwarting any such "covert or overt undertakings".

According to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), he said this while visiting troops deployed on frontlines along the Line of Control (LoC) in Khuiratta Sector as the nation celebrates Eidul Azha.

"No one understands this spirit of sacrifice better than a soldier," he said while interacting with troops, adding that Eidul Azha epitomises the essence of unconditional sacrifice.

COAS visited troops deployed on frontlines along LoC in Khuiratta Sector. COAS spent time with troops on Eid day, commended their high morale, operational readiness & continuous vigil being maintained along the LoC.

"Let us also reiterate our pledge to always stand by our Kashmiri brethren braving Indian atrocities for their right of self-determination despite all odds," ISPR quoted General Qamar as saying.

The army chief said "we are aware of the enemy's design to destabilise our country and this region. Pakistan Army is fully prepared and capable of thwarting any such covert or overt undertakings."

The COAS spent time with troops on the first day of Eid and commended their high morale, operational readiness and continuous vigil being maintained along the LoC.

Corps Commander Rawalpindi Corps, Lieutenant General Azhar Abbas received the army chief at the LoC.

Later, General Bajwa also visited Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology And National Institute of Heart Diseases (AFIC and NIHD) and performed the groundbreaking of NIHD Centre of Excellence in Prevention and Cardiovascular Research and Development (NEPCARD) where indigenous research on heart diseases will be carried out including their preventive measures.

Appreciating contributions of Army Medical Corps, the COAS said AFIC and NIHD being state of the art facility were providing high-quality medical care at the national level. He especially lauded the contribution of doctors and healthcare workers as frontline soldiers against the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lieutenant General Muhammad Aamer, Adjutant General Pakistan Army and Lieutenant General Nigar Johar, Surgeon General Pakistan Army received the COAS upon his arrival at AFIC and NIHD.