ISLAMABAD: Minister for Defense, Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan on Tuesdaysaid it is high time for Pakistan to have ‘ruthlessly candid dialogue’ withUnited States with everything on the table.
He was addressing a Pubic Talk entitled “Contours of Security Environmentin Pakistan” organized here at Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad(ISSI).
The Minister said that United States (US), in spite of spending billions ofDollars and getting its soldiers killed, could not win the Afghan war as ithas only managed to control 40 per cent of Afghanistan during last the 15years.
“America needs to deal with that ungoverned area before it points fingerstowards Pakistan’s role in Afghan peace process,” he added.
“US military aid suspension to Pakistan has no importance. At the sametime, strategic dialogue between the two countries has also facedsuspension for last two years. High level dialogues with US would not workuntil resumption and consistency in working level dialogues,” he said.
Khurram Dastgir said that US allegations and illogical demands haveaffected serious the efforts, made by Pakistan to ensure peace in region aswell as the world.
He said sacrifices of Pakistan in war against terrorism were above boardand it would not allow anyone to make it a scapegoat and bring Afghan waron its soil.
He said Pakistan has been facing challenges where it has been confrontingwith external threat on eastern border with India and facing internalthreat due to terrorism.
The Minister said the successful conduct of operation with Zarb-e-Azb andon-going Radd-ul-Fassad have made Pakistan and and region a citadel ofpeace.
Replying to a question, he said presence of Afghan refugees in large numberin Pakistan was also another cause of internal instability. The decision ofextension for a month stay of Afghan refugees in Pakistan has been taken bythe Cabinet, he added.
The Minister said a sustainable peace in Afghanistan was part of Pakistan’sforeign policy.
Answering another question, Khurram Dastgir said Pakistan and China werepartners and all-weathered friends. Multi-billion dollars project of ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) would bring development and prosperity,not only in Pakistan but also in the region.
“CPEC is the first ever project in history of Pak-China relationship thatwill actually bring economical success to region,” he added.
Regarding Indian hostile attitude, he said, Pakistan desires solution ofall outstanding issue with India but its aggression along the Line ofControl (LoC) and working boundary was a matter of concern.
He said the number of Indian provocations against Pakistan were more than1300 during year 2016.
“Justice was not just required for Mumbai attacks but it was alsoimperative for victims of Samjotha Express,” the Minister said.
He said US deemed India as its strategic partner in region, and it has beentrying to convince Pakistan not to see India as a threat while Pakistanclearly sees India as a threat to its peace and stability.
Khurram said the bilateral relations with regional countries like Russiaand Iran were improving.
“Pak-Russia conducted joint military exercises. Visit of Chief of ArmyStaff (COAS) to Tehran is proving to be step forward in strengtheningmutual relationship with regional countries,” he said.