ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top military leadership on Tuesday issued a firm warning against the exploitation of terrorism for political or criminal ends, declaring that any nexus between militancy, crime, and vested political interests would not be tolerated, as the country confronts evolving internal and external security challenges. This was stated during the 273rd Corps Commanders’ Conference, presided over by Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), HJ, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, at General Headquarters, according to an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement. The forum offered Fateha for the martyrs of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies, and civilians who lost their lives in recent terrorist attacks, and paid tribute to the professionalism and sacrifices of troops engaged in sustained, intelligence-led counterterrorism operations nationwide. Undertaking a comprehensive review of the internal and external security environment, the commanders stressed that militants operating with foreign backing, along with their facilitators and abettors, would be dealt with decisively and without exception. The conference also rejected any attempt to drive a wedge between the armed forces and the public, terming such efforts a direct threat to national unity and stability. Participants noted that coordinated efforts by the government and the military, supported by public resolve were gradually placing the country on a path towards stability, improved economic prospects, and enhanced international standing. The forum welcomed Balochistan’s special development initiatives aimed at local empowerment and social engagement, observing that similar public-centric measures were required in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the National Action Plan to secure lasting peace. The conference reiterated Pakistan’s principled positions on Kashmir and Palestine, reaffirming support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination and calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, unhindered humanitarian access, and a credible pathway to Palestinian statehood. In his concluding remarks, the Army Chief directed commanders to maintain the highest standards of operational readiness, training, discipline and technological adaptation, expressing confidence in the armed forces’ ability to counter the full spectrum of conventional and unconventional threats while safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025