ISLAMABAD: Pakistan military’s top brass discussed how to help the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in conducting free, fair, and transparent general elections on Wednesday.

“The Chief of Army Staff directed that this national duty be performed with the utmost responsibility and without losing any focus on defense and internal security challenges in hand,” the Inter Services Public Relations said in a statement after the corps commanders’ meeting.

Earlier this week, the ECP requested the deployment of 350,000 troops during the general elections scheduled for July 25.

The corps commanders’ conference, chaired by the army chief, also reviewed the geo-strategic environment and the recent security and other related developments in the region.

Military commanders also reviewed the progress of Operation Radd ul Fassad (elimination of discord) with commitment to achieve lasting peace and stability.

In February 2017, the Pakistan military launched Operation Radd ul Fassad — an intelligence-based operation across the country — to consolidate the gains made in previous military offensives in the war on terror.