Islamabad, Dec. 19 (TNS): Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal has rejected the unfounded and unsubstantiated accusations made in US National Security Strategy 2017.
In a statement issued here on Tuesday, the spokesman said that Pakistan is committed to continue its fight against sympathisers, financiers and abettors of terrorism.
He said that the US policy belies facts on ground and trivializes Pakistan’s efforts for fighting terrorism and it its matchless sacrifices to promote peace and stability in the region.
Dr Muhammad Faisal said India’s unchecked brutalization of the people of Occupied Kashmir and incessant ceasefire violations targeting innocent civilians is undermining strategic stability in South Asia.
He said that Pakistan is a more stable, peaceful and secure country due to indiscriminate and effective counter-terrorism operations against terrorism and extremism.
Pakistan has been at the forefront in the fight against terrorism and its cooperation resulted in the core of Al Qaeda being “decimated” from the region, the FO statement said.
The FO claimed that the Afghan soil is being used by hostile elements against Pakistan despite substantial US presence, and “Pakistan continues to suffer at the hands of state-sponsored terrorism, funded and abetted by our neighbours through proxies”.
It said Pakistan’s proposals for effective border management to prevent cross-border movement of militants and return of Afghan refugees have not made any headway so far.
“On the other hand, a malicious campaign is under way to undo Pakistan’s achievements in the war against terrorism.”
“Indiscriminate” counterterrorism and counter-extremism operations by Pakistani security forces have brought peace and stability to Pakistan, FO said, adding that the gains against terrorism have come “at a tremendous cost of blood and treasure”.
It emphasised that Pakistan remains committed to continue the fight against sympathisers and abettors of terrorism to ensure that its soil is not used for carrying out violence anywhere.
“We expect the same commitment from our neighbours and other regional and global actors,” it said.
The FO reiterated Pakistan’s stance that a solution to the Afghan conflict lies in political settlement owned and led by the Afghans.
The FO also took a swipe at the United States’ efforts to prop India as a regional power, saying countries should be given such statuses on the basis of their “constructive contributions”.
“Ironically, a country with a record of defiance of UNSC [United Nations Security Council] resolutions, introduction of nuclear weapons in South Asia and use of terrorism as a state policy is being projected as a regional leader,” the FO statement said.
It said violence committed by India in held Kashmir and ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) targeting civilians are undermining strategic stability in South Asia.
It stressed that Pakistan has put in place a highly efficient, robust and centralised command and control mechanism to secure its nuclear arsenal.
The country remains “committed to protect our sovereignty, territorial integrity and national interest determined by the people of Pakistan”, the FO said.
The Trump administration’s first foreign policy — announced on Monday — urges Pakistan to demonstrate that it’s a “responsible steward” of its nuclear assets and warns that the fear of a nuclear conflict with India remains a key concern in Washington.
The new policy also insists that Pakistan take action against militants on its soil and intensify its counterterrorism efforts if it wants to continue its partnership with the United States.
In a reference to the alleged presence of militant hideouts inside Fata, the Trump administration says: “We will insist that Pakistan take decisive action against militant and terrorist groups operating from its soil” as the United States “continues to face threats from transnational terrorists and militants operating from within Pakistan.”
