RAWALPINDI – According to the ISPR, US CENTCOM Commander General Votelcalled COAS General Qamar Javaid Bajwa and apprised the army chief aboutthe US decision regarding the US security assistance and coalition supportfund.
“The general said that the US values Pakistan’s role towards thewar onterror and expected that the ongoing turbulence remains a temporary phase,”the ISPR said.
He also conveyed to the army chief that the US is not contemplating anyunilateral action inside Pakistan but is seeking cooperation to tackleAfghan nationals who, in his view, use Pakistan’s soil against Afghanistan,the ISPR informed.
“This view, he felt, was undermining in Washington Pakistan’s contributionsin the war against terrorism,” the ISPR statement added further.
According to the ISPR, the COAS said that the entire Pakistani nation feltbetrayed over recent US statements despite decades of cooperation.Accordingly, Pakistan’s unanimous national response reflected the samesentiments.
Moreover, the army chief was quoted saying that “Pakistan shall continueits sincere counter terrorism efforts even without US financial support inaccordance with our national interest and shall remain committed tobringing it to its logical conclusion along with other stakeholders”.
He added that Pakistan is fully aware of US concerns on activities ofAfghan nationals in Pakistan and “we are already undertaking multipleactions through Operation Raddul Fasaad to deny any residual capacity toterrorists of all hue and colour for which return of Afghan Refugees is anessential prerequisite”.
“Pakistan has suffered hugely due to great power contestation in theregion,” the army chief reportedly stated.
The US officials were also apprised of Pakistan’s moves to strengthenborder controls unilaterally “but if Afghanistan genuinely feels affectedfrom Pakistan, bilateral border management must be Kabul’s top priority aswell”.
The COAS reiterated that Pakistan will not seek resumption of aid butexpects honourable recognition of its contributions, sacrifices andunwavering resolve in thefight against terrorism for peace and stability inthe region, according to the ISPR.
“Pakistan will keep supporting all initiatives for peace in Afghanistandespite the tendency to scapegoat Pakistan, as peace in Afghanistan is theonly way to move towards enduring peace and stability in the region,” thearmy chief was quoted saying by ISPR.
General Votel acknowledged the effectiveness of some of the recent actionstaken by Pakistan to ensure that Pakistan’s hospitality to Afghan refugeesis not misused in any way, the ISPR said, adding that the US general agreedthat both countries stand to gain from cooperative engagement.