Will break nexus between drug dealers, terrorists: General Raheel Sharif

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army chief General Raheel Sharif today vowed to break the nexus between drug smugglers and terrorism, saying the peddlers are threat to the national security as terrorists use drug money for militancy.

General Raheel visited the headquarters of army- controlled Anti-Narcotic Force (ANF) in Rawalpindi.

He was given a briefing by Director General ANF Major General Khawar Hanif about the force's counter-drug smuggling operations, military spokesman Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa said.

General Raheel said drug peddlers and those involved in its production are a threat to the national security as terrorists use drug money for militancy.

"We will break the nexus between drug dealers, financiers and perpetrators of terrorism," he said, adding: "We will not allow these drug barons to negatively influence and spoil our future generations."

Drug peddlers and those involved in its production are as much detrimental to national security as terrorists, he said, adding that drug money is being used for promotion of terrorism too and therefore it is important that drug dealers are dealt with iron hands.

The Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) also laid a floral wreath at the monument of soldiers who died in clashes with drug pushers.