India should not mistake our patience for weakness: General Sharif

Pakistan's outgoing Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif said Tuesday that India should know that mistaking Pakistan's policy of patience for weakness would be dangerous.

He said issues should be resolved politically for regional peace.

General Sharif was speaking at a handing over charge ceremony held at the Army Hockey Stadium, close to the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.

He warned India against adopting an aggressive stand in the region.

He emphasized that all institutions must work together against external and internal threats for the country's progress.

"For this, we will need to follow the National Action Plan in letter and spirit," the Dawn quoted General Sharif, as saying.

General Sharif also lauded the federal government and political leadership for their continued support to him.

"Our challenges are not yet over. We have made gains over the past year. It is necessary that we never forget the sacrifices of those who lost their lives... Our journey towards peace is still underway. Our destination is not far," the outgoing army chief said.

General Sharif said that the army will remain alert to threats, whether external or internal.

Asserting that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a major factor in ensuring regional peace, General Sharif said, "The departure of the first cargo from Gwadar port has shown this journey cannot be halted now and The time is here now that the enemies of CPEC stop working against it and become a part of it."

Paying tribute to those who had lost their lives for the nation and made sacrifices in the war against terrorism, General Sharif said that by fighting a war against terrorism they were able to change the face of history.

"I have strong belief that the Pakistan Army will always deliver on the nation's expectations," he said.