President Mamnoon Hussain on Friday said the country's leadership was fully prepared to deal with the challenges of national security and was determined to eliminate terrorism and militancy. Addressing the graduates of National Security Course here at the National Defence University (NDU), the President said efforts were afoot to ensure peace in the country and in the region.
President Mamnoon Hussain said terrorism had become a global issue that required a joint approach by all states to fight that menace. He said the international community was supporting Pakistan's counter-terrorism efforts, which he said would intensify the impact of the steps taken against militancy.
The President said Pakistan wanted restoration of peace in Afghanistan and was extending cooperation to its neighbour for enduring peace in the region.
He said Pakistan was in favour of peaceful relations with India and wanted to resolve all outstanding issues including the Kashmir dispute through dialogue.
The President said strategic and political changes at global level had given rise to new challenges that needed a new approach to deal those effectively.
He mentioned that the nation and the country's armed forces had rendered immense sacrifices in fight against terrorism and added that Operation Zarb-e-Azb was nearing its successful completion against militants.
He said the incident of Army Public School in Peshawar that took lives of innocent schoolchildren had united the entire nation against terrorism.
The President lauded the NDU for maintaining high credibility at national and international levels and said courses offered by it were benefiting both military personnel and civilian officials.
He congratulated the graduates of the National Security Course and expressed confidence that the training they had received at the prestigious institute would prove helpful in their professional life and in formulation of policies related to national security.
President NDU Lieutenant General Anwar Ali Haider highlighted the salient features of National Security Course and said NDU was focusing on preparing the central leadership for policy-making as the concept of national security continued to change its dimensions.
He said the Course was based on soundly-structured and institutionalised approach to delve upon the issues of national importance.
The course graduates gave briefing to President Mamnoon Hussain on National Security Policy 2016 and China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
Earlier, President Mamnoon Hussain gave away certificates to 24 graduates of the Course belonging to different groups of the Civil Service of Pakistan.
Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and National Security Advisor Nasir Janjua were present.