ISLAMABAD, 01 JUNE (DNA) – Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif reiterated on Wednesday that the US drone strikes are a threat to the security and sovereignty of Pakistan.

Talking to the media informally after attending President Mamnoon Hussain’s address to the joint parliament session in the federal capital, he denounced “such acts of sovereignty violations” as “detrimental to relations and counter-productive for the ongoing peace process.”

The Army Chief insisted that “Pakistan s efforts, successes and sacrifices in fight against terrorism have been unparalleled.” The army chief said drone strikes along the border areas of the country must stop.

It may be noted that Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed inside Pakistan in the drone strike few days back that hit his vehicle in Nushki district of Balochistan province. The airstrike strained relations between Pakistan and the United States.

“Operation Zarb-i-Azb has achieved major gains in the terror-hit areas of the country and winning the war is the only option left,” revealed the army chief.  The army has been committed to providing better living standards for the internally displaced persons (IDPs) despite limited sources, COAS said

“The security forces are close to a conclusive end of the grand operation in the near future,” said Sharif, adding the army has successfully restored peace in 99 per cent areas of the regions where the operation was conducted.  The Army Chief further said that China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) must be completed at any cost.

It may be mentioned here that during meeting with U.S. Ambassador David Hale at GHQ last week, General Raheel expressed Islamabad‘s serious concerns over the drone strike in Balochistan that targeted former Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour. DNA