Pakistan slams Pentagon, summons US ambassador over report accusing it of harbouring terrorist

[INDIAPOSITIVE]

Pakistan reacted sharply on Wednesday to a blunt Pentagon assessment that it harbours terrorist sanctuaries, saying the remarks in the report contained "unsubstantiated allegations" and "unwarranted comments".

In a candid assessment of terrorist safe havens in Pakistan, the Pentagon had told the US Congress that the country is using militant groups as proxies to counter the superior Indian military.

"Afghan-and Indian-focused militants continue to operate from Pakistan territory to the detriment of Afghan and regional stability. Pakistan uses these proxy forces to hedge against the loss of influence in Afghanistan and to counter India's superior military," the Pentagon told the Congress in its latest six-monthly report on the current situation in Afghanistan.

Reacting to the report, Pakistan Foreign Office said, "the Government of Pakistan takes serious exception to comments contained in the US Department of Defence report sent to the Congress under the title 'Progress Towards Security and Stability in Afghanistan'."

"While noting Pakistan's cooperation with the US in areas of mutual interests, the recently–released report also carries unsubstantiated allegations of the existence of terrorist 'sanctuaries' or that proxy forces are operating from here against Afghanistan and India," the Foreign Office said in a statement.

It said Pakistan's protest over these "unwarranted comments" was conveyed by Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz to US Ambassador Richard Olson at the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.

"Such allegations are of particular concern at this point when Pakistan government has launched comprehensive operations against militants in North Waziristan. The military operation 'Zarb-e-Azb' has been broadly welcomed internationally, including in the US," it said.

The Foreign Office said that the operation has "successfully eliminated terrorist hideouts" and is directed against all militants, without any distinction. "We therefore hope that the issues will be seen in their correct perspective," it said.

The Pentagon report also referred to the attack on the Indian Consulate in Herat, saying this was done just ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of India.

The Pentagon also informed the Congress that India continues to support Afghanistan, believing a secure and stable Afghanistan will benefit the region and facilitate economic corridors into Central Asia.

Pakistan slams Pentagon report accusing it of harbouring terrorist sanctuaries | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis

Pakistan summons US ambassador over accusatory Pentagon report - Pakistan - DAWN.COM

 

[WAR-rior]

Will be interesting to see what comes out of the Ambassador and Pak establishment meeting. Seems, some billion dollars going out of equation now. Eventually its the Armed forces that will suffer coz American moolah only goes to the Army.

 

[SarthakGanguly]

Interesting. The report does have a problem, it should have made a distinction between good and bad terrorists.

 

[sree45]

Truth hurts..

 

[WAR-rior]

Interesting. The report does have a problem, it should have made a distinction between good and bad terrorists.

That was an OUCH moment.

 

[sree45]

Pakistan's plans to highlight kashmir issue internationally just went down the gutter...

 

[Farah Sohail]

How many threads ...are Indians going to make ..on the same topic? And then they say ...Pak is obsessed with India

 

[haviZsultan]

It has become rare to hear anything positive about Pakistan from the mouths of Americans. A huge amount of distrust exists between the two sides. To bridge this distrust statements like the one just made should be avoided.

Let us not forget that it was the United States that formed these terrorists and used them against the Soviets just to see a Soviet defeat without bothering about the human life lost and the carnage which these same so called freedom fighters caused. Over 4 Billion dollars were spent by the US on Afghanistan to create a situation ripe for the invasion of Soviet forces. Once they invaded Soviets were challenged by so called mujahideens which were supported by America.

There is a picture of Haqqani, now a sworn enemy shaking hands with the Americans. I have to wonder why whenever such comments come we don't talk back and tell the world that it is the United States which began what is modern day terrorism by supporting the terrorists of yesterday and warlords who ruined Afghanistan.

 

[narcon]

Pakistan's top most priority is to persuade Korea del Sur UNO Chief to convince India to hand over "K" to Pakistan - Other than that its uncivilized!

Leave Mr. Pentagon alone who have a 'say' in what you receive annually from USA = 1.5 billion USD = Entire GDP of a country such as Liberia.

Unless you wanna rock your boat!

 

[SrNair]

Truth hurts.
And by rubbing salt on the wound they are also bracketed good terrorists and bad terrorist as one.

 

[Kompromat]

Americans are looking out for a bargain. Which one, remains to be seen.

 

[VCheng]

Will be interesting to see what comes out of the Ambassador and Pak establishment meeting. Seems, some billion dollars going out of equation now. Eventually its the Armed forces that will suffer coz American moolah only goes to the Army.

Let's wait until after General Raheel's visit to USA later this month. The real meat-and-potatoes discussions will happen then.

 

[Pakistani E]

The US still harbours terrorist wanted in Cuba for attacks against government and civilian installations. You don't see any Pakistani lecturing the US on harbouring terrorists.

Could it be that the US also makes a distinction between "good" terrorists and "bad" terrorists? Who does the US think it fools with statements and shoddy dealings with terrorists? Have we forgotten the "brave freedom fighters" speech that a certain President of the "free world" gave referring to cave dwelling extremists?

I guess such hypocritical statements are made to make our neighbour's more jingoistic members happy. Not going to change anything on the ground though. I do wonder however if it will not serve America best if it spent more of its mammoth military budget on educating its foreign policy makers.

 

[Steve781]

The US traditionally has preferred Pakistan to India and turned a blind eye to their sponsorship of these groups. The fact that they are being openly critical now shows there has been a fundamental change in policy in recent years.

 

[VCheng]

The US traditionally has preferred Pakistan to India and turned a blind eye to their sponsorship of these groups. The fact that they are being openly critical now shows there has been a fundamental change in policy in recent years.

Just another manifestation of the ever-changing world of international geopolitics, nothing else.