ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan on Thursday has lashed outat United States over its Pakistan Policy.
He said the United States constantly pressurises Pakistan in order to hideits defeat in Afghanistan.
“In order to cover up for its defeat during its war in Afghanistan, USpressurises Pakistan,” the foreign minister said while addressing a pressconference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad along withForeign Office spokesperson Dr Muhammad Faisal.
“Relations with US are important and we wish to continue talks with them,”the foreign minister asserted.
Responding to a question regarding the downward trend in Pakistan-USrelations after 9/11, Dastgir said, “In 2011, a few incidents happenedwhich deteriorated our relations.”
“First was the Raymond Davis incident, then the attack on World TradeCentre masterminded by Osama Bin Laden and then the Salala incident inwhich US forces martyred 24 Pakistani soldiers,” he said.
Dastgir continued, “However, Pakistan has moved forward from theseincidents through operations Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad and we havetried to explain that to our American partners repeatedly.”
“But the American mindset is stuck in 2011,” he lamented.
Stating that the US has not changed its perception of Pakistan since 2011,the foreign minister said, “You can deduce this from their statements.”
“Although, our American partners acknowledge the sacrifices of the armedforces and the nation but they do not appreciate the operations,” hecontinued.
“They haven’t acknowledged how much Pakistan has done to free itself ofterrorism,” he regretted.
Dastgir further said, “Our American partners who visited Islamabad alwaysstressed on action in North Waziristan and we took action. PML-N governmentand armed forces gave exemplary sacrifices to break the backbone ofterrorists.”