Pakistan rejects role of ‘scapegoat for U.S. failures’ in Afghanistan
Foreign Office has reacted over US President Donald Trump’s disappointing speech regarding safe havens of Taliban inside Pakistan.
In a statement, Pakistan’s foreign office said that US has ignored the contributions and sacrifices Pakistan has made in fighting terrorism.
“No country in the world has done more than Pakistan to counter the menace of terrorism. No country in the world has suffered more than Pakistan from the scourge of terrorism, often perpetrated from outside our borders,” the statement added.
“Instead of relying on the false narrative of safe havens, the US needs to work with Pakistan to eradicate terrorism,” the statement further.
Pakistan has rejected U.S. criticism of its efforts to fight terrorism, saying it should not be made a scapegoat for the failure of the U.S. military to win the war in Afghanistan.
Foreign Minister Asif said Pakistan had suffered great losses as there have been 70,000 casualties in militant attacks, including 17,000 Pakistanis killed – since Pakistan joined the U.S. “war on terrorism” after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
Khawaja Asif added his voice to a chorus of indignation in Pakistan over the US criticism, reiterating Pakistan’s denial that it harbours militants.
He further urged that “They (US) should not make Pakistan a scapegoat for their failures in Afghanistan”.
Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa had a meeting with American ambassador David Hale at GHQ discussed the new American strategy.
Gen Qamar said Pakistan had done a lot towards the end of terrorism, and shall continue doping that “not to appease anyone but in line with our national interest and national policy”.
“We are not looking for any material or financial assistance from USA but trust, understanding and acknowledgement of our contributions,” the army chief was quoted as saying.
DG ISPR Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor tweeted from military official twitter account,
US Amb met COAS. “We are not looking for any material or financial asst from USA but trust, understanding & ack of our contributions” COAS. pic.twitter.com/gCac10KCHv
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) August 23, 2017
Pakistan’s cricketer turned politician and chief of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Imran Khan strongly criticized Washington’s recently-revealed Afghan policy.
He said, ‘We must reject being made scapegoats for the policy failures of the US and India in Afghanistan.
Khan said that Trump has “no understanding of the South Asian region or the dynamics of the ‘war on terror'” as he pointed out the sacrifices Pakistan has made in the fight.
Imran Khan also criticised Prime Minister Khaqan Abbasi and the Foreign Office for not putting out a strong statement in response to Trump’s “serious” allegations against the country.
He praises China, who come to Pakistan’s defence and issued a prompt statement against US allegations on Pakistan.
We must also reject being made scapegoats for the policy failures of the US and India. https://t.co/iDSohH1fOS
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 22, 2017