GWADAR: Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, speaking at the Peace and Prosperity seminar on Tuesday, said Indian intelligence agency RAW is actively involved in destabilizing Pakistan.
“Hostile intelligence agencies are averse to China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC),” said the chief of army staff.
Let me make it clear that we will not allow anyone to create impediments and turbulence in any part of Pakistan, added General Raheel Sharif.
He urged those involved in such activities to leave the approach of confrontation and focus on cooperation instead.
Referring to CPEC as a corridor of peace and prosperity, he added that CPEC is the grand manifestation of the deep-rooted ties between China and Pakistan.
“It (CPEC) will bind all these nations together and bring about an economic transformation through enhanced connectivity,” said Raheel Sharif.
Final stages of military operation
General Raheel also touched upon the ongoing counter-insurgency operation, and acknowledged that Pakistan has come a long was in its struggle for stability and development.
“I take pride in mentioning the strong resolve and sacrifices offered by the people, intelligence and law enforcement agencies, and our gallant armed forces.”
“Operation Zarb-i-Azb is not just an operation, but a wholesome concept. It ultimately aims at breaking the syndicate of terrorism, extremism and corruption,” emphasised the chief of army staff.
On the occasion he also urged to international community to not only acknowledge Pakistan’s successes and sacrifices, but also come forward in blocking external help to terrorist organisations and their facilitators, abettors and financiers.
CPEC poised to bring true economic transformation
General Raheel, referring to CPEC, said that it is a lifetime opportunity for Pakistan and is poised to bring a true economic transformation to the province of Balochistan.
“We look forward to the emergence of modern infrastructure, special economic zones, health facilities and universities which will bring enduring benefits for our people.”
He also emphasised on the sustainability of the project, which would only come with good management and transparency.
“It is pertinent to mention that, though Gwadar is central to the broader conception of CPEC, the corridor itself ranges from Western China to the plains and coasts of Pakistan and promises to bring prosperity to the remotest areas of Pakistan from Gilgit-Baltistan to Balochistan.” said General Raheel.
He added that zooming out to regional and global level, many world powers have appreciated the true potential of CPEC as a catalyst of economic transformation for the entire region.
Jadhav’s arrest
Law enforcement agencies announced the arrest of Jadhav during an intelligence-based raid in Balochistan’s Chaman last week.
The Indian Foreign Ministry earlier confirmed the arrested man was a former Indian Navy officer, but the Pakistani government claimed to have recovered travel documents and multiple fake identities of Jadhav, establishing him as an Indian spy who entered into Balochistan through Iran — holding a valid Iranian visa.
Jadhav was shifted to Islamabad for interrogation, during which an unnamed official said the spy revealed that he had purchased boats at the Iranian port in Chabahar in order to target Karachi and Gwadar ports in a terrorist plot. The official had said the ‘RAW agent’ is believed to be expert at Naval fighting techniques.
After Jadhav’s arrest, Pakistan summoned Indian High Commissioner Gautam Bambawale to lodge a strong protest over ‘India’s spying activities’ in Balochistan and Karachi.
Following revelations by the Indian spy, security was tightened across Balochistan, especially at the shared borders with Iran and Afghanistan.
