ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military said on Thursday it has a “zero-tolerance” stance toward threats to national security, as the country’s chief of army staff (COAS) visited the key eastern city of Lahore, met officials and soldiers and was briefed on operational preparedness.

Lahore lies close to Pakistan’s eastern border with India and is home to key military installations, making it strategically significant during periods of heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors. In May last year, during a four-day military conflict with India, Pakistani authorities said they shot down numerous Indian drones around major cities including Lahore, underscoring the city’s strategic vulnerability and importance.

Field Marshal Asim Munir, the army chief and chief of defense forces (CDF), witnessed a specialized field training exercise involving the latest technologies, reflecting the army’s push to adapt to future battlefield dynamics and enhance combat efficiency, the military’s media wing said.

“During his address with the officers, the COAS & CDF emphasized upon Pakistan Army’s zero-tolerance policy towards any threat to national security, reaffirming the institution’s unwavering resolve to confront multifaceted challenges with focus, professionalism and determination,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement.

Reiterating the army’s core mission, he noted that the armed forces of Pakistan “remain steadfast in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and internal stability, while fostering a culture of excellence, discipline and selfless national service.”

Munir also inspected sports and recreational facilities for troops and visited a high-care medical center at the Combined Military Hospital in the city, praising staff for establishing a state-of-the-art healthcare facility, the ISPR added.

The visit, which included briefings on training standards and ongoing initiatives to boost operational capability, came as Pakistan continues to emphasize readiness along its eastern flank and broader defense modernization.