Resolving Kashmir, Palestine issues vital for peace: General Raheel Sharif

Karachi: Equating Kashmir issue with that of Palestine, Pakistan's powerful army chief Raheel Sharif on Thursday said resolution of such disputes was necessary for maintaining regional peace and stability.

"Sometimes security of the whole region can be threatened by a single unresolved issue such as Palestine and Kashmir," Sharif said, adding the resolution of these issues is a key to regional peace and stability.

Without naming any country, he said that while fighting terror, Pakistan was fully cognizant of other conventional and non-conventional threats and will maintain complete readiness to meet them.

Sharif said Pakistan was sincere in its fight against terror.

"Our determination is unflinching. We mean to end it beyond doubt," he said addressing the eighth International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) 2014 in Karachi.

He also said that the army will end terrorism without discrimination and it would fight until "we get rid of terror in all forms and manifestations".

Sharif also said presence of non-state elements in Pakistan has complicated the internal security situation.
"The forces of disorder have threatened the traditional structures of order," the army chief added.
He also said that the security does not only apply to borders, but it also meant to maintain internal peace like securing cultures and way of life of the people.

"In a nutshell, the word security has already transformed into a much larger context that would not have made sense only 20 years ago," he said.

The army chief was accompanied by Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force chiefs.

The exhibition showcased defence equipment including aircraft, tanks, ammunition, APCs and ship building and communications-related equipment of 77 Pakistani firms.

Around 256 defence equipment manufacturers from all over the world, including from Russia, took part in the exhibition.