Pak is facing hybrid conflict, needs comprehensive response to deal with it: Gen Bajwa

Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa said on Monday that his country was facing a "hybrid conflict" which needs a comprehensive national response to deal with it.

Addressing the National Security Workshop, organised by the Pakistan Army at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, Gen Bajwa said Pakistan had been subjected to various threats especially during the last two decades.

"But Pakistani nationals and its armed forces bravely and successfully stood up to the challenges and the country is on a positive trajectory to defeat it effectively," the Army said in a statement.

The National Security Workshop is an annual event, organised by the Army-run National Defence University, in which the participants are representatives of all segments of the society.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) also warned of a fresh challenge faced by the nation.

"We are now confronting hybrid conflict where focus is shifting to subversion on religious, sectarian, ethnic and social issues. This needs a comprehensive national response," he said during an interactive session with the participants after briefing on security situation in the country.

He said that the Pakistanis now have a greater responsibility to ensure that the people, especially youth, do not fall prey to the propaganda onslaught being launched through soft offensive.

"It's our time to rise and progress and we must grasp the opportunity achieved after countless sacrifice," he said.