ISLAMABAD – Defence Minister, Khurram Dastgir Khan says Pakistan hassuffered the most being an ally of United States, but price tags can’t beput on the countless sacrifices by our people, armed forces and on theeconomic loss.
He was addressing a public talk titled ‘Contours of Pakistan’s securityEnvironment’ organized by Institute of Strategic Studies in Islamabad today.
Khurram Dastgir said the United States has not suspended aid under itsrecent decision, but actually suspended all efforts for dialogue oncountering terrorism.
He stressed that without a continuous working level dialogue, no high levelinteractions can be productive and dialogue has to be kept open as long asthe US is in Afghanistan.
Khurram Dastgir underscored that Pakistan after concerted efforts over thelast four years has come out of the tirades of extremism, terrorism, energycrisis and is on its way towards sustainability of these gains.
He said as Pakistan is consolidating its gains made in war againstterrorism, the regional and international powers should opt for cooperationinstead of criticizing it.
The Defence Minister said the pervasive insurgency in Afghanistan iscontinuously threatening us.
He said a stable and democratic Afghanistan is one of Pakistan’s foreignpolicy priorities.
The defence Minister said it is very unfortunate that the United Statesblames Pakistan for supporting terrorist outfits in Afghanistan but it doesnot even lift a finger in supporting Pakistan for effective bordermanagement.
He said the United States has tried to convince Pakistan that there are nothreats from India but the ground realities are different.
The Minister reiterated Pakistan’s moral, diplomatic and political struggleto the Kashmiri people.
Referring to Pakistan’s strengthening ties with China and Russia, theDefence Minister said our all-weather friendship with China has beentransformed into partnership through the China Pakistan Economic Corridorproject.
He said Pakistan has also signed defence cooperation agreement with Russiaand joint exercises are also being conducted.
Later speaking during the question answer session, Khurram Dastgir saidPakistan has not yet suspended the logistics support and supply routes forUnited States but hinted that it is a leverage which we will use at anappropriate time.
To another question about the timeline given to Afghan refugees for leavingPakistan, the Defence Minister said we want them to return to their countryvoluntarily and with dignity.
He said our calculations on terrorist outfits have revealed that they userefugee camps for their nefarious activities and once the refugees leave wewill be able to clear these camps.