Kayani visits Southern Command
Advises utmost restraint to avoid collateral damage
Staff Report

ISLAMABAD—Vice Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani on Friday visited Headquarters Southern Command Quetta and troops deployed in Kohlu and Sui.
During his day long visit, Vice Chief of Army Staff met senior field commanders, who briefed him about security environment, operational preparedness and progress of development works being undertaken with Army’s assistance.
He mixed freely with young officers and men and exchanged frank views with them.
While appreciating the high spirits and firm resolve of officers and men to fight internal militant security challenges posed to Pakistan due to extremism, the Vice Chief of Army Staff said that tackling these handful of extremists and misguided elements demands prudence, confidence and understanding because we are dealing with our own people.
He advised all ranks to use utmost restraint and take all possible measures to avoid collateral damage.
Vice Chief of Army Staff said that Pakistan Army besides assisting the Provincial Government in maintaining law and order situation in the province, is providing tremendous support for the development of Balochistan.
A sum of around Rs 11 Billion were being spent on development of Kohlu and Dera Bugti Districts alone.
In addition, Army has established a Balochistan School of Technical Education and is providing technical education to more than 600 youth of Balochistan presently.
Special seats have been provided to the children from Balochistan for education in Army Public Schools, Military Colleges, Cadet Colleges, PAF School Sargodha and some other military establishments.
He said “we have relaxed merit standards for the Balochistan youth so as to encourage them to join the Army and to provide them job opportunities.”
He made a special mention of 28 Balochi officers who were commissioned in 115 PMA long course in April this year. A similar number will graduate as officers in the forthcoming PMA passing out parade next week, he added.
General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said this role of Army clearly manifests a progressive national approach towards bringing the most backward and downtrodden human resource of Balochistan into national main stream.
Vice Chief of Army Staff also highlighted Army’s efforts to open up Chamalang Coal Mines which were closed since last 30 years due to feudal and tribal feuds.
Highlighting the role of Army in recent floods in Balochistan, Vice Chief of Army Staff said that Pakistan Army is a national institution which has a blend of officers and men from all four Provinces, Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas.
“We have always responded to the call of the nation whether it is defense of the country or a natural disaster and would continue doing so in future as well.”
During the visit, Vice Chief of Army Staff was accompanied by Lieutenant General Khalid Shamim Wyne, Commander Southern Command.