COAS KEY NOTE ADDRESS
C- IED SYMPOSIUM

Chairman Senate, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Assalam-o-Alaikum and Good Afternoon,

It is indeed an honour and privilege for me to address this remarkable gathering representing experts in a wide variety of disciplines and from a number of countries. The diversity, background and expertise of the guests has made this symposium a truly rewarding and successful event. The participation of representatives from 28 countries is a vivid expression of the desire of international community to fight terrorism. It is also reflective of the international community’s willingness to play a greater role in the region in dealing with the multiple issues associated with IEDs. We welcome your keen interest and hope that this event will help you understand our peculiar environment, our abilities and most importantly our constraints.

As a nation we are peace loving people. Overwhelming majority of our people is moderate, resilient and extraordinarily hardworking. In the recently conducted General Elections, we have amply demonstrated that as a nation we can withstand any challenge. In these elections, people of Pakistan not only courageously withstood the threat of terrorism; they also defied unfounded dictates of an insignificant and misguided minority. As a nation, our commitment to moderation, prosperity and Rule of Law is total and unwavering. We have the resolve and a firm belief to overcome the challenges towards attainment of these goals.   

One of these challenges is the threat of terrorism. In fighting this menace, we share the experience of many other nations. We have a rich experience of dealing and succeeding against the faceless enemy who employs highly innovative means of destruction. In pursuit of global peace, we have to respond to this enemy equally innovatively while always staying a step ahead.
 
Over time, Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) have posed a new dimension of threat to the public as well as the Law Enforcement Agencies. This threat is multidimensional and complex. Factors like prompt availability, ease of manufacture, low production cost, innovative use and resultant devastating effects have made the IED, a weapon of choice for the terrorists. Their use has unfortunately gained wider currency.

The threat and impact of these weapons is not Pakistan specific. IEDs have caused devastation at both regional and global levels. These have been used with unfortunate consistency in Iraq and Afghanistan and thankfully, somewhat inconsistently, in other countries of the world. The recent Boston bombings involving use of homemade IED manifests the international dimension of this threat and serves as a stark reminder that even the most developed nations of the world remain vulnerable to this threat.

Contrary to prevalent perceptions, Pakistan has come a long way in fighting this menace over the past 2-3 years. Pakistan has taken significant policy initiatives to counter the IED threat. Pakistan Army, aware of the seriousness of the threat, is leading the drive to create a pragmatic, cost-effective and efficient C-IED Strategy. This strategy aims at creating awareness, assisting legislation, adopting best practices from across the world, suitably equipping the forces and effectively training them. The strategy thus aims at developing a proactive, rather than a reactive response at the national level.

The underlying complexity of the issue, forces us to adopt a multinational, as well as whole of the Government approach. I will take the example of just one of the precursors of IEDs i.e. Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (commonly known as CAN). Pakistan, being an agricultural country, is heavily dependent on fertilizers.  5% of the fertilizers used in agricultural sector of Pakistan are based on CAN. Production of CAN has come under national and international focus, to the extent of creating a perception that controlling CAN alone, can remove the menace of IEDs and our arguments against that perception were almost taken as unwillingness to act against IEDs. However, CAN is only one of the precursor of IEDs. There are dozens others which remain readily available. Moreover, Pakistan is not the only country producing CAN. Other countries in the region also produce CAN which has a higher degree of nitrogen content than what Pakistani CAN possesses. For example, Ammonium Nitrate, produced in certain regional countries has 34-35% of nitrogen content as opposed to 26% contained in the Pakistani product.

This is not all. There is evidence that as Pakistan tightened the control on sale and distribution of CAN, terrorists simply switched to other precursors, like Potassium Chlorate, not produced in Pakistan. The predicament thus clearly reflects the necessity of an approach which is comprehensive, in terms of (One) involving all countries of the region, (Two) covering the complete range of possible hazardous materials and (Three) very importantly, mitigating the effects of policy restrictions on the common man. We don’t want to end up making our citizens dependent upon black marketers and criminal elements, thus strengthening rather than weakening the terrorists’ support network. There remains a need to explore, with the help of the more technologically advanced among us, how best to replace the hazardous materials with economically viable alternatives, or to mitigate their destructive capacity through chemical treatment or, even if that is not possible, development of necessary monitoring mechanisms.

I am hopeful that with the support and collaboration of international community, Pakistan and the region will overcome the menace of IEDs. Our success will hinge upon adopting a focused and multilayered approach, improving upon the ability to work with partners around the globe and at all levels of government as well as the private sector; to monitor, protect against and ultimately reduce the threat of an IED being used successfully. We must continue to coordinate our efforts, commit the required resources and maintain the hard-earned counter-IED experiences for our collective use.

The Symposium has provided us a forum to sit together and seriously debate upon the issue and find solutions to the problem. I am sure that it would strengthen our resilience in defeating IEDs in an effective and responsible manner. Benefitting from the regional and global presence of distinguished guests of diverse expertise, I would like to propose formation of a Regional Military C-IED Forum supported by a wider international forum to benefit from experiences of all countries involved. I am hopeful that this proposal will receive serious consideration from the participants and their countries.

I extend my sincerest tribute to the Pak Army’s Shuhada and their families without whose sacrifices we would not be where we are today. I would also ask you to remember all the victims of IEDs in Pakistan, as well as those who have suffered in other countries of the world. We all owe a collective debt to them which can only be repaid by exterminating the menace of IEDs. The reduction in this menace, I am sure, would help in defeating terrorism as a whole.
In the end, I would thank the worthy participants of this Symposium. Your participation has enhanced our resolve and would hopefully prove to be a stepping-stone towards improved regional and global cooperation.

I Thank You

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Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani addressing the participants of Counter Improvised Explosive Devises (C-IEDs) International Symposium on Saving Lives by defeating IEDs held at General Headquarters on Monday.  (20-5-2013)  

Namaz-e-Janaza of a Pakistan Army Peace Keeper, Subedar Tanveer Hussain who embraced shahadat in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on 7th May 2013 in a fire fight when an Armed rebel group Ambushed a logistic convoy of Pakistani Peace Keeping Contingent, while en route to its camp, was offered at his native village Nakka Kahut, Tehsil Talagang, Distt: Chakwal today. Subedar Tanveer Hussain was buried with full military honour.

It may be mentioned that Pakistan Army troops have been rendering valuable services in various UN Peacekeeping Operations since 1960. At present more than 8000 officers and men of Pakistan Army are deployed as peacekeepers in different parts of the World. Up till now, 135 Pakistani Peacekeepers have sacrificed their lives while maintaining peace around the globe.

A large number of military personnel, relative of shaheed and locals offered Namaz-e-Janaza  for the departed soul.

Namaz-e-Janaza of a Pakistan Army Peace keeper, Subedar Tanveer Hussain who embraced shahadat in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on 7th May 2013 was offered at his native village Nakka Kahut, Tehsil Talagang, Distt: Chakwal on Tuesday.                 (14-5-2013)

Photograph of Subedar Tanveer Hussain, Shaheed

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Army Quick Reaction Force, moving out of Bahawalpur Garrison for security duties during Election 2013.

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Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani  casting his vote at NA- 54 Polling Station  in Rawalpindi on Saturday. (11-5-2013).
 

Despite very less reaction time for a change in the finalized security plan, for which deployment of all Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) has already been completed and coordinated, in deference to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) request, General Headquarters has ordered Army troops to modify and further strengthen their plans and affect deployment at the most sensitive polling stations to the extent possible. 
Priority for deployment on these most sensitive polling stations would be based on assessment by local civil administration in coordination with intelligence, LEAs and local Army commanders. These deployments will be solely for the purpose of providing assistance in security duties for elections as envisaged under article 245 of the constitution.

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NLC CONSTRUCTED UNIVERSITY BUILDING HANDED OVER TO AFGHAN GOVT

National Logistics Cell (NLC) handed over the newly constructed building of Liaqat Ali Khan Engineering Faculty Block at Bulkh University at an impressive ceremony held at Mazar-i-Sharif. The mega project of the University has been completed by NLC at the cost of 18 million dollars under Pakistan’s Bilateral Assistance Programme for the rebuilding and rehabilitation of Afghanistan.

The Faculty Block is the fourth project completed by NLC in Afghanistan. Other projects constructed by Pakistan’s premier construction company, NLC, include Allama Iqbal Faculty of Arts in Kabul, Nishtar Kidney Centre in Jalalabad and Sir Syed Post Graduate Science Faculty in Nanagarahar while work on 200 Beds Jinnah Hospital Kabul is in final stages of completion.

Ambassador of Pakistan to Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq gave away keys of the building to the Chancellor of Balkh University Mukamel Alokozay to formally hand over the project to Afghanistan. The Ceremony was attended by Governor Barkh Province Atta Muhammad Noor, Minister for Higher Education Dr. Obaidullah Obaid, members of Provincial Council and Wolesi Jirga, faculty staff and a large number of university students.

Addressing the ceremony, Ambassador Muhammad Sadiq underlined the need for fostering mutual cooperation and friendly relations between the two brotherly countries. He said that the Faculty will become a symbol of Pakistan’s desire and its contribution to promote higher education in Afghanistan.  The Ambassador paid glowing tributes to National Logistics Cell for timely completion of the mega project which would play a major role in promoting the higher education in the brotherly country. Governor Balkh Atta Muhammad Noor thanked the Government of Pakistan for its continued support in the re-building of Afghanistan and appealed regional countries for launching similar projects in the war torn Country.

Spread over an area of 17,000 square meters, the Faculty Block has 50 classrooms having the capacity to accommodate around 3000 students, 2 seminar halls and 60 offices for faculty members besides other allied amenities. The Faculty has its own water supply, sewerage and electrical systems.

It is worth mentioning here that the completion of Project in face of heavy odds and in the difficult environment of the war-torn Country is regarded as landmark achievement of NLC by the Afghan Govt. NLC created enormous goodwill among the Afghan people through its quality construction and providing unique opportunity to local workforce to enhance their skills and expertise in construction. The Project thus paved way for strengthening the brotherly ties between both Countries with far-reaching diplomatic implications.

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A view of Liaqat Ali Khan Engineering Faculty Block at Bulkh University constructed by NLC.

Pakistan’s ambassador to Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq, Chancellor of Balkh University Mukamel Alokoza and  Governor Balkh Province Atta Muhammad Noor, Minister for Higher Education Dr. Obaidullah Obaid.