ISLAMABAD: President Mamnoon Hussain on Wednesday said the Pakistani nation and the armed forces were fully capable of countering internal and external threats, including terrorism, from the country. “I warn the terrorists and their sponsors to have no doubt that the nation and the armed forces will not rest till the elimination of last terrorist from the country’s soil,” the president said at the convocation ceremony held here at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST). President Mamnoon said success against terrorism had been achieved to a great extent and said the credit belonged to the resilient nation and the brave armed forces who rendered immense sacrifices for the country. He stressed the need for analysing the factors that contributed to the rise of extremism and militancy in the country so as to take effective steps to counter it in future. The president said in the contemporary world, the defence-related matters had become inter-linked with politics, diplomacy, economy and communications and emphasised the importance of defence studies in this context. He said in the wake of terrorism that took its strong roots over the decades, it was important that the young officers and soldiers of armed forces be trained to counter the modern-day security challenges. President Mamnoon urged upon the nation to fully support all development projects of national importance including China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to ensure a bright and prosperous future for the country. He dismissed the impression that changes had been made in the CPEC route. “I assure you that there is not a single inch change in the [CPEC] route,” he said, adding that the project would put the country on the trajectory of prosperity. The president said every person should contribute towards national development by fulfilling his duties and responsibilities with sincerity. He stressed the need for raising awareness in the society about evils of corruption, which had put a negative effect on all spheres of life. President Mamnoon expressed satisfaction that there had been a decrease in corruption in the country and mentioned a recent report by Transparency International that showed an improvement by Pakistan in terms of corruption perception index. He said the youth could play an important role in inhibiting corruption and misuse of national resources.