Pakistan disappointed by US reliance on false narrative
By
Sardar Sikander
Published: August 23, 2017
Foreign Office spokesperson Nafees Zakara. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD: In a toughened up stance, Pakistan on Tuesday expressed disappointment over the US Afghan policy which it said “ignores the enormous sacrifices rendered by the Pakistani nation” urging Washington to work with Islamabad against terrorism “instead of relying on false narrative of safe havens.”
The hard-hitting statement came as initial reaction from the Foreign Office in response to US President Donald Trump’s recently announced Afghan policy that aims at targeting Pakistan to ‘do more’ in its counterterrorism drive.
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“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. It is, therefore disappointing that the US policy statement ignores the enormous sacrifices rendered by the Pakistani nation in this effort,” the statement came following a crucial cabinet huddle with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi that discussed the issue.
“As a matter of policy, Pakistan does not allow use of its territory against any country. Instead of relying on the false narrative of safe havens, the US needs to work with Pakistan to eradicate terrorism.”
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It said: “Pakistan reiterates its view that there is no exclusive military solution to the crisis in Afghanistan. The military action during the last 17 years has not brought peace to Afghanistan, and it is not likely to do so in the future. Only an Afghan-led, Afghan-owned politically negotiated solution can lead to sustainable peace in Afghanistan.”
The statement added that the threat to peace and security could not be isolated from the complex interplay of geopolitics, continued existence of festering disputes and pursuit of hegemonic policies. Non-resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains the primary obstacle to peace and stability in the region.