Pak Army chief accuses India of destabilising his country

Pakistan Army Chief General Raheel Sharif has accused India of destabilising his country and attempting to "subvert" its crucial USD 46 billion economic corridor project with China.
Speaking at a seminar on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in the coastal town of Gwadar, he said the significance of a China Pakistan economic cooperation had "raised eyebrows" in the region and India had openly opposed the project.
"The CPEC is a deep manifestation of the time-tested relations between China and Pakistan. But there are foreign forces who, realising the potential of CPEC and wanting an influential role in the region, are working to destabilise Pakistan and the project," Raheel said yesterday.

"Hostile intelligence agencies were averse to this grand project (CPEC), especially Indian intelligence agency RAW, which is blatantly involved in destabilising Pakistan," the Pakistan Army Chief claimed.
But "we will not allow anyone to create impediments and turbulence in any part of Pakistan", he added.
Describing the project as "a corridor of peace and prosperity", Raheel said that CPEC is a lifetime opportunity for Pakistan to improve the socio-economic equation of its underprivileged areas and populace.

However, there were "external intelligence agencies who are involved in facilitating terrorists, their abettors and financiers in Pakistan in a bid to subvert the economic corridor project," he said.

"As COAS, I assure you security of CPEC which is our national undertaking. We won't leave any stone unturned and continue to close watch at every step," the General said.
He said work on the CPEC was progressing at a fast pace and already 675 kilometres of roads had been completed in just two years' time.
"Transparency and good management is important for sustainability of the CPEC which will eventually benefit the people of Balochistan and Pakistan," he said.
(Reopens FGN 17)
Gen Raheel today chaired a high-level meeting at the Corp Commander's headquarters in Karachi to review the ongoing operation against terrorists and criminal elements in the Pakistan's financial hub.

"A terror free and peaceful Karachi is the ultimate aim of this operation and all efforts must be directed with a focused approach to achieve this objective," he said.
He said that Pakistan's economic progress was linked to having lasting peace in Karachi which is the country's economic and financial hub.
The operation clean-up has been going on in Karachi since October, 2013.
The Army chief also expressed satisfaction over success of law enforcement agencies in the continuing operation against criminal elements in the city.
Earlier, he addressed the faculty, participants and allied forces of Air War Course, and spoke on the regional security environment and the army's fight against the menace of terrorism.