ISLAMABAD – Pakistan on Thursday rejected the U.S. State Department’sAnnual Country Report on Terrorism 2019, terming it “self-contradictory andselective” in its characterization of Pakistan’s efforts for counteringterrorism and terrorist financing.
“We reject any insinuation about any safe haven. Pakistan will not allowany group or entity to use its territory against any country, the ForeignOffice said in a statement in response to the U.S State Department reportaccusing Pakistan of harbouring terrorism.
The Foreign Office said on the contrary, Pakistan faced the threat ofterrorism from externally based and foreign sponsored groups, like the TTP,ISIS-K and others.
“The Report is again either silent or vague on the origins and locations ofthese terrorist groups,” it said.
‘While the Report recognizes that Al Qaeda has been seriously degraded inthe region, it neglects to mention Pakistan’s crucial role in decimating AlQaeda, thereby diminishing the threat that the terrorist group once posedto the world,” it pointed out.
The Foreign Office said similarly, the Report acknowledged sharp decreasein the incidence of terrorist attacks in Pakistan, however neglected toexplain that “this was only possible because Pakistan’s resolutecounter-terrorism operations had targeted proscribed groups and outfitswithout discrimination.”
The statement mentioned that Pakistan was fully aware of itsresponsibilities as a sovereign state.
“Pakistan remains committed to fulfilling its obligations under the UNSC1267 sanctions regime for the freezing of assets and denial of funds andeconomic resources to all designated entities and individuals,” it said.
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The Foreign Office emphasized that in recent months, Pakistan prosecutedand convicted the leadership of several proscribed groups, which was alsoacknowledged by the United States elsewhere but only merit a passingmention in the Report.
It highlighted that Pakistan also continued to implement the FinancialAction Task Force (FATF) Action Plan, and had undertaken wide-ranging andsystemic reforms to that end.
“While it notes the progress made by Pakistan under the Action Plan, theReport did not capture the political commitment, revamping of Pakistan’sAML/CFT regime, and our consistent and sustainable actions which have alsobeen recognized by FATF,” it stressed.
“Finally, the Report fails to acknowledge the full extent of Pakistan’ssupport for the Afghan peace process, which has created a historicopportunity for lasting peace in the region,” it added.
The Foreign Office said Pakistan’s positive contribution and facilitationof U.S.-Taliban direct talks culminating in the Peace Agreement of 29February 2020 were widely acknowledged, including by the U.S. and itsleadership.
“Pakistan hopes that future U.S. reports will fully acknowledge the entirespectrum of Pakistan’s counter-terrorism efforts and present a fair andcorrect perspective of this global threat,” it said.
