President Mamnoon Hussain on Saturday said the National Action Plan (NAP) would continue till elimination of the last terrorist to ensure peace, not only within the country but also in the region. Addressing the 134th Long Course Passing Out parade here at the Pakistan Military Academy, the President paid rich tributes to the sacrifices of the country's Armed Forces who were successfully countering the terrorists through Operation Zarb-e-Azb.
Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif also attended the passing out parade. The President said the national political leadership unanimously agreed on the National Action Plan to eliminate extremism and terrorism from the country. He said it was the right time that the international community also acknowledged the sacrifices of the Pakistani nation and its security forces, to ensure regional and global peace and stability.
The President said the objectives for the creation of the State of Pakistan could not be achieved till the internal and external challenges confronting the country, were addressed. He said the sacrifices of the people of Pakistan were bearing fruition and the country was moving ahead. He said the country got its independence after great sacrifices and said every sacrifice would be rendered to maintain it.
The President said Pakistan desired good friendly and peaceful ties with all its neighbours, adding it was vital that all outstanding issues including the issue of Kashmir were addressed to ensure lasting peace in the region. He said Pakistan desired to resolve all issues peacefully through talks. He said Pakistan's defence capabilities were for peace in the region. "However, foreign interference and nuclear and conventional arms race in the region are being perpetrated to destabilise Pakistan which we cannot ignore," the President said, adding Pakistan, therefore wanted an end to those ploys for regional and global peace and security of coming generations.
He said Pakistan's Armed Forces were fully aware of the changing geo-political environment and were capable to meet any challenge. He assured that the government would continue to fulfil all needs of the Armed Forces of the country. "In view of the peculiar regional situation, there is no room for complacency and we need to further strengthen our defence capabilities and at the same time continue our policy of peaceful resolution of all disputes," he added. The President said the government was tackling numerous challenges with success and taking the country forward on path of progress and prosperity.
He lauded the high quality of training, being imparted to the cadets at the Pakistan Military Academy and said it could be seen from the success of the Operation Zarb-e-Azb. He said PMA was producing a breed of officers and men who were willing to lay down their lives for motherland. The President congratulated the cadets of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Libya, Afghanistan and Palestine for successfully completing their training. He also congratulated the cadets who were awarded prizes for their outstanding performance at the academy.