RAWALPINDI, Feb 25 (APP): Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif, on Thursday late witnessed large scale military maneuver exercise
of Bhawalpur Corps in Cholistan desert wherein operational capability of field formations is being tested in a near war environment to validate new war fighting concepts.
In a late hours short tweet Director General ISPR Lt. Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa said “COAS witnessed large scale maneuver Exercise of Bahawalpur Corps in Cholistan Desert.”
The COAS had reached on a two-day visit to Bahawalpur and Multan to witness ongoing exercises of Bahawalpur and Multan formations in the Cholistan desert, an ISPR news release earlier had stated.
“COAS visited training area near Fort Abbas and Dingarh and witnessed training exercise of Bahawalpur Corps wherein the operational capability of the field formations is being tested in near war environment, to validate the new war fighting concept. The exercise involves large scale integrated maneuvers of infantry, mechanized forces, combat aviation and PAF”, it stated.
On arrival in the field area, the Chief of Army Staff was given a detailed briefing on the aim and objectives of ongoing exercise by the Field Commander.
The scope of the exercise includes offensive and defensive manoeuvres by Army to ensure complete dominance of the battlefield.
The formations and units have been undergoing this exercise in strenuous field conditions for over one month now and the final phase of the exercise along with the validation is underway.
While lauding the standard of training of participating troops, COAS expressed complete satisfaction over operational preparedness and training standards of the Army.
He said all available means must be utilized to improve the operational capability of the Army to effectively respond to full spectrum of threat. Strenuous training and highest standard of preparedness in peacetime are the only guarantors of peace, he said.
COAS on the sidelines inaugurated the newly constructed Church and soldiers mess at Bahawalpur garrison.
On arrival at Bahawalpur , COAS was received by Lieutenant General Javed Iqbal, Corps Commander.