ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief General Raheel Sharif on Wednesday reiterated the resolve of the armed forces of protecting integrity and sovereignty of the country and vowed to accomplish their mission of countering all threats faced by it.

During his visit to Kotri Ranges to witness Field Firing and Battle Inoculation Exercise of Karachi Corps, he said in unequivocal terms that with the backing of the nation, they would accomplish their “mission of defeating every threat to the motherland in accordance with the expectation of the people.”

Gen Sharif commended the standard of training of the participating troops and lauded their skills, precision and accuracy in engaging the targets, said an ISPR press release.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) said that, “strenuous training and highest standard of preparedness in peacetime are the only guarantors of peace.”

“Perpetual quest for modern techniques, seizing initiative from the enemy and mastery in battle procedures are essential for success in all kinds of military operations, whether conventional or unconventional,” he added.

The army chief emphasised on all ranks to continue to focus on training and combat preparedness to respond to full spectrum of threat with speed and effectiveness.

The exercises in Kotri, Sindh are aimed at training troops in various tactical operations under battlefield environment.

Fighter aircraft of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and armoured fighting vehicles of Mechanised Division also participated in live firing maneuvres as part of the field firing.

Earlier, on arrival in Kotri, the COAS was received by Corps Commander Karachi Lieutenant General Sajjad Ghani.

Meanwhile, Gen Raheel Sharif in a high level meeting at the Prime Minister House in Islamabad briefed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif about targets achieved so far in ongoing targeted airstrikes in North waziristan and Khyber agencies.

The meeting was also attended by ministers for interior and defence and Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Major General Amir Riaz.

The premier was told by the military officers that Pakistani made drones were used to trace locations of hideouts which were later targeted successfully with fighter jets of PAF.

Earlier this month, Pakistan entered into talks with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) aimed at ending their seven-year insurgency.

But the militant group continued carrying out attacks on a near-daily basis, and the dialogue was suspended last week after the insurgents claimed they had executed 23 kidnapped soldiers in a northwestern tribal region.

Since then the air force has been carrying out attacks in the volatile tribal regions which border Afghanistan, killing dozens.