Country’s defence is in safe hands, says PM Abbasi

karachi — Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Saturday said that Pakistan would rise and stand tall among the comity of nations as its defence was in safe hands.

“Pakistan is in safe hands. There is a concocted narrative being spread against us by unscrupulous and vested elements. This is not new to us and we shall foil all such designs with unity and keeping the national unity supreme,” the prime minister said while addressing as chief guest at the Pakistan Navy’s 108th Midshipmen and 17th Short Service Commissioning Course Commissioning Parade here.

In total, 129 officers passed out, including 57 Pakistani, 46 foreigners and 26 from the Short Service Commissioning course. The officers from other countries included Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia.

The prime minister said Pakistan was committed to promoting friendly ties with neighbouring countries. “Pakistan believes in peaceful coexistence and a friendly neighbourhood.

There is a concocted narrative being spread against us by unscrupulous and vested elements. This is not new to us and we shall foil all such designs with unity and keeping the national unity supreme Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Prime Minister

We do not harbour any aggressive designs. However, our desire for peace must not be construed as sign of weakness and indifference to the developments taking place in the region,” he said.

Abbasi pointed out that any disguised or unnatural arrangements for supremacy would neither succeed nor serve the purpose of peace and stability.

He said that Pakistan believed in peace and co-existence and that the people of this region deserved a better and prosperous life but this dream could only come true by dispensing with hegemonic ambitions and following a policy of cooperation and coherence.

He said Pakistan Navy had been contributing to the overall deterrence and the national security and in the wake of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor with Gwadar Port being its central component, its role had increased.

The prime minister said the operations like Zarb-e-Azb and Raddul Fasaad were not merely the military operations, rather those were the manifestations of the nation’s resolve to cleanse Pakistan of the scourge of terrorism. Abbasi said Pakistan was committed to foiling the designs aimed at disrupting peace in the region.

He congratulated the successful cadets and their parents, saying the confidence of the cadets was the symbol of a strong country.

“Commissioning is a defining moment in your career that you will always treasure. Today you will assume the responsibility to defend the maritime frontiers of our homeland and to guard its ideology, integrity and freedom, even at the cost of your lives,” the prime minister remarked, urging the cadets to measure up to the expectations of the nation. — APP