50,000 Pak troops in biggest war game focussing India

Islamabad, Apr.6 (ANI): The Pakistan Army would be launching its biggest war exercise since 1989 with an aim to counter a 'conventional' war threat from India on Saturday, April 10.

The exercise codenamed Azm-e-Nau-3 (New Resolve) would involve nearly 50,000 troops besides the Air Force, and would continue till May 13.

Addressing a press conference here, the Pakistan Army's Military Training Director Major General Muzammil Hussain said the six-week war exercise, the largest since the Zarb-e-Momin exercise in 1989, would 'focus only on conventional war on the eastern border.'

"The exercise is a culmination of a long and deliberate process of war games, discussions and logistic evolution of the concept of warfare that is fully responsive to a wide menu of emerging threats," The Daily Times quoted Major General Hussain, as saying.

Responding to a question that the country is also facing a severe security threat on its western border, he said the Pakistani troops are well trained to fight insurgency, and Islamabad cannot remain ignorant of the threat posed on the eastern border.

"We are aware of the threat on the western front, we have internal security issues and we can't be oblivious to what could happen on the eastern border," Major General Hussain said.

A special feature of the exercise will be the use of technological achievements and advancement in intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance and communication, Pakistani officials said.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) chief Major General Athar Abbas said the forthcoming war games is 'aimed at ensuring peace in the region by encountering threats through a strategic approach.'

Major General Abbas said India has already been informed about the war exercise, which would be conducted in Punjab and Sindh provinces bordering India. (ANI)