After being forced to cut defence budget, Pak Army chief Bajwa puts up brave front. Read here

Pakistan Army's move to slash its defence budget for one year will t impact military's "response potential" to all s of threat, army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa has asserted as he celebrated Eid-ul-Fitr with soldiers posted along LoC with India.

Pakistan's military, in a rare move, decided to voluntarily cut defence budget for next fiscal year amid an austerity drive launched by government to solve cash-strapped nation's financial woes.

Commenting for first time on unprecedented move by powerful military, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Bajwa on June 5 assured nation that re would be impact to military's "response potential" due to voluntary cut in defence budget.

Bajwa who spent Eid-ul-Fitr with troops along Line of Control (LoC) said best Eid for a soldier is to have pride for being on duty of defending morland even on such festive days away from family. 

"For defenders of Pakistan, our first family is Pakistani nation, n ones back home," he said while giving a pep talk to troops.

Speaking on voluntary decision to forego even routine increase in annual defence budget, army chief  said, "This initiative is t a favour to nation as we are one through thick and thin."

"Irrespective of voluntary cut in defence budget coming financial year (FY), re shall be impact on our response potential to all s of threat and quality of life of soldiers."

" pay raise decision is also only for officers and t for soldiers," Bajwa said in a statement. 

He said Pakistan Army will man shortfall during financial year by "tightening our belt". 

Pakistan in 2018 was 20th biggest military spender in world with an expenditure of USD 11.4 billion, a report published by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said in April.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has welcomed  military's voluntary cuts, especially in light of country's financial situation.

His cash-strapped government has negotiated a USD 6 billion bailout pack from International Monetary Fund to overcome financial woes facing country.

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Khan said he was grateful for move that came "despite multiple security challenges" that Pakistan faces.

He ded that funds saved will be used for development of newly-merged tribal areas as well as in Balochistan.

Meanwhile, Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted on Wednesday that voluntary cuts in defence budget for a year would t be at cost of defence and security.

"We shall maintain effective response potential to all threats. Three services will man impact of cut through appropriate internal measures." 

In ar tweet on June 5, he criticised Indian media reaction to Pakistani military's gesture.

"Indian fake media busy spinning on our internal def budgeting choice. Don't forget, we were same forces with same budget on 27 Feb 19. We hv capability & capacity to respond. Remember, it's t budgeting, it's resolve of force & nation firmly standing behind its forces," military spokesman tweeted.

He was apparently refereing to tensions between India and Pakistan which worsened after a Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) suicide bomber attacked a CRPF convoy in Pulwama in February. 

Following terror attack, Indian fighter jets struck a terrorist training camp of JeM in Pakistan's Balakot on February 26. Pakistan carried out a counter-offensive next day and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured an IAF pilot, who was later handed over to India. 

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