Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Ehsan-ul-Haq said on Saturday "We want peace with all our neighbours - peace with honour and dignity. Our desire for peace must not be misconstrued as a sign of weakness," he said.
"In fact it is reflective of our increasing confidence to effectively safeguard our national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The preparedness of our defence capability is a manifestation of this national resolve," the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee said.
General Ehsan-ul-Haq said this while addressing the 83rd Midshipmen Commissioning parade held at Pakistan Naval Academy, PNS Rahbar.
He further said the unprecedented peace initiatives with India, coupled with confidence building measures by our government will indeed contribute to the much desired stability in South Asia and resolution of the Kashmir dispute.
The chief guest further said we must recognise that we will have to fend for ourselves on our own strength for which we need to build on our indigenous capability and pursue it with more vigour than before.
"The construction of Agosta Sub-marines, the recent deal for purchase of F-22 Frigates on transfer of technology basis from China, production of Al-Khalid Tank and JF-17 Thunder aircraft would definitely strengthen our Armed Forces", he added.
He said we all must realise that the nation was making huge sacrifice in fulfilling the need of Armed Forces and it was incumbent upon us to live up to the trust reposed in us.
Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee advised the newly commissioned officers that we must not lose sight of our ideological frontiers,
"Pakistan, by its very creation, is committed to safeguard its ideology. We have to make Pakistan a prosperous and modern Islamic state according to aspirations of Quaid-e-Azam," he added,
The chief guest said that learning was a continuous process and even after such quality training, there is much more to learn about our profession. "Strive hard to keep pace with the rapid technological advancements in the field of modern naval warfare. You are expected not only to live up to the glorious traditions of our forefathers, but also to further glorify these traditions by your own accomplishments and efforts in years to come," he added.
Earlier, in his welcome address Commandant Pakistan Naval Academy Commodore Zafar Mahmood Abbasi shed light on the salient features of training of cadets. He apprised of the audience that today a total of 43 midshipmen are being commissioned as Acting Sub Lieutenants.
He further apprised that the Academy has also the distinction of fulfilling the training needs of cadets from brotherly Muslim countries of Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Lebanon.
Later, the passing out term took oath and the chief guest gave away awards to the cadets who displayed outstanding performance in academics and professional training.
Midshipman Shakeel Ahmad was awarded Sword of Honour for the best over-all performance while Midshipman Mobin-ul-Haq received the Academy Dirk. Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee gold medal was awarded to Cadet Asif Raza.
The proficiency banner was given to Fox'l Squadron.
The ceremony was attended by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Shahid Karimullah, Ex Naval Chiefs, large number of serving and retired senior officers from three services, foreign diplomats and military attaches, civil dignitaries, parents of graduating officers and distinguished personalities of the city.