Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa has said the armed forces have capabilities to fight all external and internal threats and traditional and non-traditional wars, 24NewsHD TV channel reported.

"If any enemy wants to fight us, it will find us ready at every moment and on every front," he said while addressing a Defence Day ceremony at the General Headquarters. He heaped praise on the national heroes and paid tribute to the martyrs and their families. 

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He said: "We have fought every enemy courageously and defeated all external and internal plots. Whether it was the wars of 1965 and 1971, the Kargil fight or the war against terrorism, our armed forces proved that we know how to defend the motherland."

The army chief highlighted the importance of public support in military operations, saying: "Sans people's support, any army will prove to be a wall of sand like we saw in our neighbouring country. This is why the army's success is dependent to a large extent on the people's support."

He continued: "We have no doubt that the relationship between the army and the nation is the strong shield that has always defeated the enemy's plots and black-handed tactics and this unity has always made us persevere.

“Pakistan’s enemies want to achieve their nefarious designs through propaganda.  The armed forces with the support of the people will thwart all sinister designs of the enemies."

Gen Qamar said the use of force is the sole prerogative of the state and no group or individual will be allowed to blackmail the state on the basis of ethnicity and religion.

The army chief said Pakistan’s security and stability is linked to democracy and to make the country more stable, implementation on Constitution must be ensured.

Gen Bajwa said the military is closely monitoring the situation in the region, particularly the situation in Afghanistan. While there is an opportunity of peace in Afghanistan, the situation can also lead to new challenges and threats, he said, adding that Pakistan desires peace in Afghanistan and expects that the international community including the UN will play its role in rebuilding the war-torn country.