General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, Vice Chief of Army Staff on Tuesday visited field formations deployed in NWFP and Fata. This day-long trip included visits to Malakand, Miranshah, Wana, and Dera Ismail Khan. The visit on the 3rd day of Eid by the Vice Chief of Army Staff was in line with the rich military traditions of spending part of Eid holidays with deployed troops.
During the visit, Vice Chief of Army Staff not only met with senior field commanders, who briefed him, but also freely mixed with junior officers, junior commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers and other ranks.
He appreciated the high spirits of officers and men and their firm resolve to fight internal militant challenges posed to Pakistan by terrorists and non state actors. He explained that military instrument was being used as part of an overall national strategy, in unison with political, economic and development strategies.
He also appreciated the initiative of the field military commanders to distribute special Eid Packages in their respective areas, bought by the soldiers from their own salaries and saved rations.
This symbolises the national character of Pakistan Army and its role as a "Force-for-Good" both for internal security as well as global peace and security. During the visit, he was accompanied by Corps Commander Lieutenant General Masood Aslam.