ISLAMABAD – DG ISPR Major General Asif Ghafoor while talking to private TV Channel, in response to US President Donald Trump recent policy against Pakistan has said that no policy against the national interest of Pakistan is acceptable.
A day before US President Donald Trump has asked Pakistan to take “decisive action” against terrorist groups operating from its soil, as he unveiled America’s new National Security Strategy (NSS).
Mandated by the Congress, Trump released his first National Security Strategy, according to which the US seeks a Pakistan, that is not engaged in destabilising behavior and a stable and self-reliant Afghanistan. “We have made clear to Pakistan that while we desire continued partnership, we must see decisive action against terrorist groups operating on their territory. And we make massive payments every year to Pakistan. They have to help,” Trump said in his remarks as he announced his NSS.
Pakistan has received billions from US since the 9/11 terror attacks. “We will press Pakistan to intensify its counterterrorism efforts, since no partnership can survive a country’s support for militants and terrorists who target a partner’s own service members and officials,” it said.
The US will also encourage Pakistan to continue demonstrating that it is a responsible steward of its nuclear assets, the NSS said. The US will continue to partner with Afghanistan to promote peace and security in the region, it said. “We will continue to promote anti-corruption reform in Afghanistan to increase the legitimacy of its government and reduce the appeal of violent extremist organisations,” it added. The NSS links its efforts to build trade and investment ties with Pakistan with improvement in security.
“We will press Pakistan to intensify its counterterrorism efforts, since no partnership can survive a country’s support for militants and terrorists who target a partner’s own service members and officials,” it said.
Observing that the US continues to face threats from transnational terrorists and militants operating from within Pakistan, the NSS said the prospect for an Indo-Pakistani military conflict that could lead to a nuclear exchange remains a key concern requiring consistent diplomatic attention. The Trump Administration has been talking tough with Pakistan after it came to power, but has stopped short of taking any action against it even though the Pakistani leadership have shown reluctance in taking decisive actions against terrorist groups.