- Says Pakistan has done much more for peace in Afghanistan than any other country
ISLAMABAD, November 20: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Tuesday called on the world to acknowledge the military, economic, political and social costs paid by Pakistan in its successful fight against terrorism.
“Pakistan has successfully fought against terrorism while also contributing to regional peace. Pakistan has done much more for peace in Afghanistan than any other country,” the army chief said in a statement released by the military’s media wing.
Underscoring the nation’s contribution to regional peace, Gen Bajwa reminded the world that Pakistan’s contributions towards peace in neighbouring Afghanistan would not come at the cost of its own honour or security.
“We have paid the highest military, economic, political and social cost and the world should acknowledge that. We shall continue to contribute towards peace in Afghanistan but Pakistan’s honour and Pakistan’s security shall always stay premier,” he said.
The army chief’s statement comes after Pakistan’s Foreign Office summoned the United States Charge d’affaires earlier on Tuesday to lodge a protest over US President Donald Trump’s “unwarranted and unsubstantiated allegations” against the country.
Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua conveyed “her government’s disappointment on the recent tweets and comments by the US president” and told the US charge d’affaires “that such baseless rhetoric about Pakistan was totally unacceptable”, a statement issued by the FO read.
“Rejecting the insinuations about Osama Bin Laden, the foreign secretary reminded the US charge d’affaires that it was Pakistan’s intelligence cooperation that provided the initial evidence to trace the whereabouts of OBL,” it added.
Foreign Secretary told the US charge d’affaires that no other country had paid a heavier price than Pakistan in the fight against terrorism. The US leadership had acknowledged on multiple occasions that Pakistan’s cooperation had helped in decimating the core al Qaeda leadership and eradicating the threat of terrorism from the region, FO further said.
“The US must not forget that scores of top al Qaeda leaders were killed or captured by active Pakistani cooperation. Pakistan’s continued support to the efforts of international community in Afghanistan through ground/ air and sea lines of communication was unquestionably critical to the success of this Mission in Afghanistan,” the statement added.
“In the wake of recent US pronouncements to seek political settlement in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the US were working in close coordination with other regional stake holders in order to end the prolonged conflict. At this critical juncture, baseless allegations about a closed chapter of history could seriously undermine this vital cooperation,” it said.-Agencies
