ISLAMABAD: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir visited the impoverished and insurgency-prone Balochistan province in southwestern Pakistan on Friday, interacting with farmers and evaluating the security situation, while emphasizing the region’s development as imperative for the success of the entire country.
Balochistan, which lies at the heart of Pakistan’s economic development plans, has been a scene of low-level insurgency for several decades.
Despite being rich in natural resources like gas, oil and minerals, the province remains one of the poorest places in Pakistan, prompting a separatist movement by armed nationalist groups that accused the central government in Islamabad for not letting the region get its fair share of the wealth.
Baloch nationals have also blamed Pakistani security forces for enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, though these allegations have been frequently denied by the country’s civilian and military authorities.
The army chief visited Balochistan’s Awaran district earlier in the day where he was briefed about the efforts made by the security forces to ensure the socioeconomic development and enhancement of the province’s agriculture potential.
“Success of Balochistan is success of Pakistan,” he was quoted as saying in an official statement released by the military’s media wing, ISPR. “People of Pakistan are proud of the brave people of Balochistan who have stood tall against all odds. Armed Forces of Pakistan and Law Enforcement Agencies will continue to render their services in support of the people of Balochistan for peace and prosperity.”
General Munir interacted with the local elders and farmers in the area, emphasizing the significance of agriculture and the army’s commitment to the Green Pakistan Initiative, an environmental project aimed at combating climate change and deforestation in the country.
He said that farmers would be given all kinds of agricultural facilities, including the provision of easy loans, seeds, fertilizers, solar tube wells and guidance from experts, to help them cultivate their lands and become partners in the progress and development of their country.
The army chief also inaugurated Cadet College Awaran and interacted with its students and faculty members.
General Munir was received by the corps commander of the Balochistan Corps upon arrival to the district.
Pakistan’s army chief visits Balochistan, stresses region’s development as key to country’s success
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Pakistan’s army chief visits Balochistan, stresses region’s development as key to country’s success
- General Munir was briefed about the efforts made by the security forces to ensure the region’s socioeconomic development
- He promises all agricultural facilities to farmers to help them cultivate their lands and become partners in country’s progress
Pakistan Air Force conducts successful test of air-launched cruise missile
- The indigenously developed ‘Taimoor’ missile has a range of 600 kilometers and carries a conventional warhead
- The missile is designed to fly at low altitudes, which enables it to evade hostile air, missile defense systems
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has successfully conducted a test of an air-launched cruise missile, ‘Taimoor,’ the Pakistani military said on Saturday, marking another significant milestone in advancement of national aerospace and defense capabilities.
The indigenously developed Taimoor weapon system is capable of engaging enemy land and sea targets with high precision. The missile has a range of 600 kilometers and carries a conventional warhead.
The missile test comes months after a brief but intense military conflict between Pakistan and India in which the nuclear-armed neighbors exchanged missile and artillery fire and deployed drones and fighter jets.
Equipped with state-of-the-art navigation and guidance system, Taimoor is designed to fly at very low altitudes, enabling it to effectively evade hostile air and missile defense systems.
“Its precision-strike capability significantly enhances the conventional deterrence and operational flexibility of Pakistan Air Force, further strengthening the country’s overall defense posture,” said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.
“The successful flight test underscores the technical maturity, innovation and self-reliance achieved by Pakistan’s defense industry.”
The missile’s launch was witnessed by senior officers of the armed forces along with distinguished scientists and engineers, who played a pivotal role in the development of this advanced weapon system.
PAF’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu congratulated the scientists, engineers and the entire PAF team on this remarkable achievement, lauding their professional excellence, dedication and unwavering commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s defense capabilities.
“The air chief reaffirmed that such accomplishments are a testament to the nation’s resolve to achieve technological self-sufficiency and maintain a credible conventional deterrent in the evolving regional security environment,” the ISPR said.
“The successful test of the Taimoor weapon system reflects Pakistan Air Force’s continued pursuit of operational readiness, technological superiority and national security objectives.”
Pakistan has placed greater emphasis on battle readiness in recent months. On Dec. 15, Pakistan Navy test-fired surface-to-air missile in the northern Arabian Sea.
Prior to that, Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir visited frontline garrisons of Gujranwala and Sialkot to observe a field training exercise involving tanks and drones, where he had highlighted the importance of technological adaptability, saying modern warfare required agility, precision, situational awareness and rapid decision-making.
